Adoptive transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE): prevention of successful transfer by treatment of donors with myelin basic protein.

After onset of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), guinea pigs can be effectively treated by injection with myelin basic protein (BP). In order to localize the site of action of BP, cells from sensitized donors treated with BP one, two, three, or four times after disease onset have been transferred to normal recipients. One injection of BP has no effect on ability of cells to transfer EAE. Two injections partially inhibit transfer. After the third and fourth injections the sensitized cells lose their capacity to transfer EAE. The therapeutic effect of BP previously demonstrated in actively sensitized guinea pigs must involve the specifically sensitized cells rather than the target organ.