Both bone marrow- and non-bone marrow-associated factors determine susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis of BUF and WAG rats.

To determine the feasibility of treatment with allogeneic bone marrow for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, we investigated the susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis of bone marrow chimeras using BUF, (WAG X BUF)F1 (high responder), and WAG (low responder) rats. In contrast to previous studies in which other rat strains were used, the response was largely determined by the genotype of the grafted bone marrow, but the influence of a non-bone marrow-associated factor was evident. The latter factor was identified as a low corticosterone response in BUF rats and a high corticosterone response in WAG rats. After adrenalectomy, a significant proportion of WAG rats developed clinical experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The bone marrow-associated factor of resistance appeared to be the activity of cyclophosphamide-sensitive suppressor cells. The latter cells were found to interfere with the formation of inflammatory foci in the central nervous system, while corticosterone primarily prevents the clinical expression of lesions.