Myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein: identification of an encephalitogenic epitope and association with multiple sclerosis.

Myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP) is an abundant myelin constituent expressed exclusively by oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells of the CNS. We report that MOBP causes experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and is associated with multiple sclerosis. First, we note that purified recombinant MOBP inoculated into SJL/J mice produces CNS disease. Tests of overlapping peptides spanning the murine MOBP molecule map the encephalitogenic site to amino acids 37-60. MOBP-induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis shows a severe clinical course and is characterized by a prominent CD4+ T lymphocyte infiltration and a lesser presence of CD8+ T cells and microglia/macrophages around vessels and in the white matter of the CNS. Second, PBL obtained from patients with relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis mount a proliferative response to human MOBP, especially at amino acids 21-39. This response equals or exceeds the response to myelin basic protein and an influenza virus hemagglutinin peptide, both serving as internal controls. Thus, a novel myelin Ag, MOBP aa 37-60, plays a role in rodent autoimmune CNS disease, and its human MOBP counterpart is associated with the human demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis.