In vivo depletion of Lyt-2 cells fails to alter acute and relapsing EAE.

The cellular mechanisms of recovery and relapses in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) are not known. In order to determine the role of the suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Lyt-2+) in EAE we studied the effect of in vivo depletion of this subset using monoclonal antibodies. Intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg of monoclonal antibody 2.43 resulted in rapid depletion of Lyt-2+ cells from lymph node, spleen and blood. Depletion of this subset had no effect on the kinetics of development, severity, and duration of acute EAE. Furthermore, following recovery from acute EAE administration of 2.43 did not result in development of relapses that were different in onset or severity from control animals. These results suggest that T cells of the Lyt-2 phenotype do not play a significant role in the immunoregulation of EAE.