STUDIES OF V-BETA-8 T-CELL RECEPTOR PEPTIDE TREATMENT IN EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS

Lewis rats immunized with T cell receptor (TCR) variable region peptide V-beta-8 in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) were protected against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced with myelin basic protein in CFA, although variable protection was also observed in rats injected with control peptide in CFA, or CFA alone. However, this adjuvant-mediated protection could be avoided by immunizing with TCR peptide in incomplete adjuvant (IFA). Clinical, but not histologic EAE was suppressed in rats given V-beta-8 peptide in IFA, whereas control animals injected with V-beta-14 peptide in IFA, or IFA alone developed severe clinical EAE. Anti-V-beta-8 antibodies were present in the sera of all V-beta-8-treated rats. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that autoimmune disease can be suppressed by inducing an immune response against the TCR-idiotope of autoreactive T cells.