Autoimmune effector cells. VI. Transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis with spleen cells activated in mixed lymphocyte cultures.

Although spleen cells (SpC) from Lewis rats that have been immunized with guinea pig myelin basic protein in complete Freund's adjuvant do not transfer experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) to syngeneic recipients, we report that effector cells of EAE can be activated in SpC suspensions during mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) to allogeneic SpC. Effector cell activation correlates with interleukin 2 (IL 2) production. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that autoreactive cells may be generated as a result of an immune response to exogenous antigens.