Autoimmune effector cells. I. Transfer of experimental encephalomyelitis with lymphoid cells cultured with antigen.

Relatively low numbers of spleen and lymph node cells from Lewis rats previously challenged with myelin basic protein efficiently transfer experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) to normal syngeneic recipients after in vitro culture with antigen. Moreover, cells obtained from rats that have recovered and are resistant to EAE can also transfer disease. Cell separation studies show that a nylon wool-adherent cell is responsible for transfer of EAE. Density gradient ultracentrifugation revealed that these effector cells are probably lymphoblasts.