Delayed-type hypersensitivity to myelin basic proteins in mice susceptible to allergic encephalomyelitis.

The delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response in mice immunized with autologous spinal cord homogenate or purified myelin basic protein (MBP) was measured by the 125I-UdR uptake ear assay. Mice were tested for DTH responses with MBP preparations from different species and with synthetic peptides. The 114-122 and 68-84 peptide regions appear to be major determinants for inducing and eliciting DTH in the mice which are susceptible to allergic encephalomyelitis.