The role of T-lymphocyte subsets in susceptibility and resistance to induction of autoimmunity in the central nervous system; [Uloga subpopulacija T limfocita u osetljivosti i otpornosti na indukciju autoimunosti u centralnom nervnom sistemu.]

Abstract

The importance of two major subsets of T cells (CD4 and CD8) for the induction of EAE was analysed in two strains of rats differing in susceptibility to EAE and the level of IL 2 production. It was found that CD8 cells do not play a role in the induction or in the inherent resistance to EAE. Additionally, the elimination of CD8 cells does not increase the IL 2 production in lymphoid cell cultures. Based on these and previous results showing that a low dose of cyclophosphamide readily abrogates the resistance to EAE and enhances the IL 2 production. Thus it was concluded that genetically determined differences in susceptibility to EAE are governed by immunoregulatory genes whose effect appears to be mediated at the level of cellular interaction of different subsets of CD4 T cells.