Measles virus-specific human T cell clones: studies of alloreactivity and antigenic cross-reactivity.

Cross-reactivity between altered self and foreign major histocompatibility complex (MHC) may be of etiologic importance in autoimmune disease. We have studied 29 measles virus-specific cloned and uncloned T cell lines from a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) and from a normal subject. Two of the T cell clones derived from the normal subject reacted with foreign MHC determinants. No cross-reactivity between measles virus and either myelin basic protein (BP) or galactocerebroside (GC) was detected. T cell clones which are specific for nominal antigen and which also recognize alloantigen were detected with much smaller frequency than that reported in murine systems. Our data do not support a role for alloreactive measles-specific T cells, nor for cross-reactivity between measles virus and either BP or GC, in the pathogenesis of MS.

Peptide specificities of myelin basic protein-reactive human T-cell clones.

Forty myelin basic protein (BP)-reactive T-cell clones were isolated from a patient with multiple sclerosis and used to identify human T-cell recognition sites on the BP molecule. At least three sites have been identified: one in the N-terminal half of the molecule (residues 1-97), one in the C-terminal (residues 98-170), and one which spans residues 97-98. The clones exhibited a marked preference for the C-terminal half of the molecule. No cross-reactivity with measles virus was detected. These clones will be useful for both the further delineation of the human T-cell recognition sites on BP and the generation of anticlonotypic monoclonal antibodies.

Polypeptide specificities of measles virus-reactive T cell lines and clones derived from a patient with multiple sclerosis.

Eleven cloned and uncloned measles virus-specific T cell lines were generated from peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from a patient with multiple sclerosis and were assayed for measles polypeptide specificity. Three clones reacted specifically with the fusion (F) protein and one recognized the hemagglutinin (HA). Two reacted with whole virus but not with any of the purified proteins. Five cell lines proliferated in response to multiple measles polypeptides. The addition of anti-HA or anti-F monoclonal antibodies to two of the multispecific cell lines each resulted in partial suppression of the proliferative response to whole virus by the cell lines. Two of the three F-reactive clones recognized antigen in association with a subgroup of HLA-DR4; the third responded to F only in the presence of autologous antigen-presenting cells. Of the two clones that reacted only with whole virus, one was restricted to DP3 and one to autologous cells. The HA-specific clone was DP3 restricted. Several cell lines recognized multiple measles polypeptides in association with a single HLA antigen. Recognition of individual measles polypeptides does not segregate with specific genetic restriction elements.