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Astrocytes present myelin basic protein to encephalitogenic T-cell lines

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Abstract

Astrocyte proliferation and perivascular lymphocyte infiltration are conspicuous among the cellular changes in the active brain lesions of multiple sclerosis patients1. Recent observations have indicated that most of the perivascular lymphocytes are T cells2–4 which may be actively involved in the generation of the brain lesions. Much less is known about the significance of the proliferative astrocytes, although the fact that they produce an interleukin-1 (IL-1)-like factor that enhances the release of interleukin-2 by T lymphocytes5,6, may provide a clue. We show here that rat astrocytes are able to present antigen to T lymphocytes in a specific manner which is restricted by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and that they can in particular activate myelin basic protein (BP)-specific, encephalitogenic T-cell lines. Only on such interaction do astrocytes express Ia antigens in easily detectable amounts. Antigen presentation by astrocytes may have a central role in the generation of immune responses in the brain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Clinical Research Unit for Multiple Sclerosis, Hermann- and Lilly-Schilling Foundation, Box 6120, D-8700, Würzburg, FRG

    Adriano Fontana, Walter Fierz & Hartmut Wekerle

  2. Section of Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Häldeliweg 4, CH-8044, Zürich, Switzerland

    Adriano Fontana

Authors
  1. Adriano Fontana
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  2. Walter Fierz
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  3. Hartmut Wekerle
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Fontana, A., Fierz, W. & Wekerle, H. Astrocytes present myelin basic protein to encephalitogenic T-cell lines. Nature 307, 273–276 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/307273a0

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