Cytokine secretion by deltagamma and alphabeta T cells in monophasic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Mononuclear cells were isolated from the central nervous system (CNS), lymph nodes (LN), spleen and blood, over the course of murine monophasic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Individual cytokine secreting T cells were enumerated. IL-2-secreting alphabeta T cells were numerous at all sites at disease onset. By disease peak their numbers had fallen profoundly; they remained low thereafter. IL-2 secreting gammadelta T cells were rare throughout. IFN-gamma-secreting cells were plentiful at all sites at disease onset. gammadelta T cells comprised 7% of total and 20% of IFN-gamma-secreting CNS-derived cells at disease onset; values at disease peak were 12 and 40% respectively. IL-4-secreting alphabeta T cells were rare in the CNS and LN throughout and did not increase in the spleen from baseline values. In contrast, splenic IL-4-secreting gammadelta T cells had increased to four-fold baseline values at disease onset and seven-fold at disease peak. Recovery from EAE is associated with a global inhibition of IL-2-secreting alphabeta T cells and to a lesser extent with IFN-gamma-secreting alphabeta and gammadelta T cells, whereas IL-4-secreting gammadelta T cells increase in the spleen as disease evolves.