Human cellular immune response to copolymer I and myelin basic protein

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Neuroscience
• Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

• Copolymer I (Cop I) is investigated for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment.
• Potential efficacy is linked to protection in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.
• Assumed immunologic cross-reactivity between Cop I and myelin basic protein (MBP) is a proposed mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the immunologic cross-reactivity between Cop I and MBP.
• To evaluate the T-cell response to Cop I and MBP in normal individuals.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of helper-phenotype T-cell lines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
• In vitro stimulation of T-cell lines with Cop I and MBP.
• Assessment of antigen-specific immune tolerance induction.

Main Results:

• Cop I-reactive T-cell lines did not respond to MBP.
• MBP-reactive T-cell lines did not respond to Cop I.
• Exposure to MBP induced antigen-specific tolerance in MBP-reactive T-cells, but Cop I did not induce tolerance in MBP-reactive T-cells.

Conclusions:

• No evidence of immunologic cross-reactivity between Cop I and MBP was found.
• The proposed mechanism of Cop I efficacy in MS via MBP cross-reactivity is not supported by these findings.