Genetic control of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis at the level of cytotoxic lymphocytes in guinea pigs.

To analyze immunologic mechanisms involved in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a system for studying the cytotoxic reaction of guinea pig lymphocytes against syngeneic macrophages pulsed with myelin basic protein (BP) was developed. It was found that both EAE-susceptible strain 13 and EAE-resistant strain 2 animals developed cytotoxicity directed against whole BP. However, only strain 13 guinea pigs developed such cells in response to immunization with the encephalitogenic nonapeptide determinant of BP. Strain 2 macrophages appeared able to present the nonapeptide determinant to strain 13 lymphocytes. Anti-BP cytotoxic lymphocytes were found to be recruited by anti-BP initiator lymphocytes.