Isolation of myelin basic protein-reactive T-cell lines from normal human blood.

T-Cell lines which responded by proliferation to the autoantigen, myelin basic protein (MBP), were isolated from the blood of six of nine normal humans. These T-cell lines could be maintained in in vitro culture for up to 2 months through the use of Interleukin 2 and repeated MBP stimulation. Optimal antigen-induced proliferation required both antigen and antigen-presenting cells found in the adherent cell population of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM). The T-cell lines were predominantly of the helper phenotype (OKT3+, OKT4+, OKT8-) and responded to both human and guinea pig myelin basic protein.