Chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in SJL mice following the adoptive transfer of an epitope-specific T cell line.

Chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (CREAE) was induced in SJL mice following the adoptive transfer of a T cell line derived from mice immunized with a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 89-100 of the guinea pig myelin basic protein (MBP) molecule. This cell line proliferated to both the peptide and MBP and induced CREAE characterized by a series of relapses with eventual stabilization. Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and demyelination were prominent neuropathologic features of both the acute and relapsing phase of the disease. The chronic phase was characterized by CNS lesions containing chronically demyelinated fibers with remyelination and some fiber drop-out, but little inflammation. The induction of CREAE in SJL mice by a cell line specific for residues 89-100 demonstrates that T cell recognition of this epitope is required for successful disease induction in this strain of mouse.