Measles-specific T cell clones derived from a twin with multiple sclerosis: genetic restriction studies

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 134; no. 3; pp. 1561 - 1566
• Main Authors: Richert, JR, McFarland, HF, McFarlin, DE, Johnson, AH, Woody, JN, Hartzman, RJ
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Assoc Immnol 01-03-1985; American Association of Immunologists
• Subjects: Antigen-Presenting Cells - immunology; Antigens, Viral - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Clone Cells - immunology; Diseases in Twins; Epitopes; Female; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - genetics; HLA-DP Antigens; HLA-DR Antigens; Humans; Lymphocyte Activation; Measles virus - immunology; Medical sciences; Multiple Sclerosis - genetics; Multiple Sclerosis - immunology; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Neurology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Human; Multiple sclerosis; Immune response; Central nervous system; Paramyxoviridae; Twin; Virus; Specificity; T-Lymphocyte; Morbillivirus; Genetics; Clone; Measles virus
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.134.3.1561

The association between multiple sclerosis (MS) and HLA-DR2 suggests that the disease may be associated with an aberrant immune response, likely directed against an antigen of either viral or host origin. We have used measles virus-specific T cell clones derived from a patient with MS to study genetic restriction patterns of antigen presentation by macrophage-enriched (E-) populations. Twenty-two clones proliferated in response to measles-infected Vero cells but not to mumps-infected or uninfected Veros. E- cells from both the autologous subject and her healthy, measles nonresponder identical twin were capable of presenting antigen to all clones. Studies with E- cells obtained from a panel of cell donors demonstrated clones which recognized antigen in association with D2/DR2, DR4, subgroups of DR4, and SB3. Three clones recognized antigen only in association with the autologous or twin's cells, but not with other sets of HLA-matched E-cells obtained from healthy donors or from other patients with MS. These studies indicate that the differing responses to measles virus demonstrated by these two identical twins are not explained by alterations in the interactions between antigen-presenting cells and T cells. Furthermore, at the clonal level, no preferential role is seen for HLA-DR2 as the restricting element for presentation of measles virus to these clones.