Vaccination against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis using a subencephalitogenic dose of autoimmune effector cells (1). Characteristics of vaccination.

We previously reported that rats could be vaccinated against EAE by inoculation with 10(7) anti-basic protein (anti-BP)-activated T cells raised as long-term lines. The activated T lines were irradiated (1,500 rads) to prevent them from causing EAE. We now report that a single inoculation of 10(4) or fewer cells of an activated anti-BP T-cell line did not cause clinical EAE but rather induced marked resistance to EAE produced by adoptive transfer of the anti-BP T cells. Resistance was less effective against EAE induced by active immunization to BP. Vaccination was immunologically specific, long lasting, and could be effected by various routes of administration.