Correlation between susceptibility to demyelination and interferon-gamma induction of major histocompatibility complex class II antigens on murine cerebrovascular endothelial cells.

The induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class II expression was studied on cerebrovascular endothelial cells (CVE) obtained from strains of mice that are resistant (BALB/c) and susceptible (SJL and CBA) to Theiler's virus-induced demyelination (TVID). Following 24 h treatment with interferon (IFN)-gamma, MHC Class II was induced on CVE derived from susceptible but not resistant strains of mice. However, IFN-gamma induced the expression of MHC Class II on late passages of BALB/c CVE. These results demonstrate a correlation between susceptibility to demyelination and the ability of IFN-gamma to induce the expression of MHC Class II on CVE. In susceptible strains of mice, the presence of activated, IFN-gamma-secreting T cells, in the vicinity of CVE would increase the antigen-presenting capabilities of CVE and result in increased T cell traffic into the central nervous system.