Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: enhancement of cell-mediated transfer by concanavalin A

Adoptive transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) with splenic lymphocytes from Lewis rats sensitized to myelin basic protein (BP) was potentiated by incubation of the cells in vitro with concanavalin A (Con A). Spleen cells of donors which had recovered from EAE also transferred the disease readily after activation by this procedure. In contrast, the transfer of activity of lymph node cells was not altered. We conclude that during the course of EAE a population of T cells with immunologic memory for BP is generated and persists in the spleen. Incubation with Con A activates these cells and results in marked enhancement of their ability to transfer the disease.