Abstract
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a postinfectious illness of the central nervous system (CNS), is thought to be an autoimmune disease. Here, we characterized the cytokines secreted by myelin-reactive T cells generated from patients with ADEM. The frequency of MBP-reactive T cell lines was ten-fold higher in patients with ADEM compared to patients with encephalitis and normal subjects. Whereas there was no significant IFN-gamma secretion, the predominant cytokine secreted by MBP-reactive T cell lines was IL-4 in patients with ADEM. In contrast, IL-4 secretion was only rarely detected in the controls. The presence of high frequencies of MBP-reactive IL-4 secreting T cells in subjects with ADEM during their recovery phase may be similar to myelin reactive IL-4 secreting T cells observed during the spontaneous recovery of animals with EAE.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Antibodies, Viral
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Autoimmunity / immunology
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Demyelinating Diseases / immunology
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Demyelinating Diseases / metabolism
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Demyelinating Diseases / virology
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Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / immunology*
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Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / metabolism
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Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology*
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Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / metabolism
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Epitopes
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Female
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Herpes Zoster / immunology
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Herpesvirus 3, Human / immunology
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Humans
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Infant
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Interferon-gamma / immunology
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Interleukin-2 / immunology
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Interleukin-4 / immunology
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Male
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Myelin Basic Protein / analysis*
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Myelin Basic Protein / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes / chemistry*
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / virology
Substances
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Antibodies, Viral
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Epitopes
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Interleukin-2
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Myelin Basic Protein
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Interleukin-4
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Interferon-gamma