Characterization of the in vitro cytotoxic assay of immune lymphoid cells in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Complement, antilymphocyte globulin, antiencephalitogenic antigen serum, actinomycin D and mitomycin C inhibited the cytotoxicty against syngenic fibroblasts of spleen cells more than lymph node cells. The results strongly suggest that the immune cell populations in EAE in the spleen andlymph nodes are qualitatively and/or quantitatively different. Cytotoxicity was dependent upon the number of immnue cells in the test. There was evidence of antigenic competition between encephalitogenic antigen and Myocobacterium tuberculosis in the induction of EAE.