Figure 3. Identification of naturally processed AQP4 determinants.

AQP4 peptides were tested for their ability to induce T cell proliferative responses in intact hAQP4-primed (A) C57BL/6 and (B) SJL/J mice. Each 20-mer AQP4 peptide is indicated by first residue. Mice were immunized subcutaneously with 100 µg recombinant intact hAQP4 in CFA. 10–12 days later, lymph node cells were cultured in vitro for recall responses to the indicated human or mouse overlapping 20-mer peptides. Data are shown as stimulation indices (SI's) of mean proliferative responses in the presence of peptide (25 µg/ml) compared to the absence of antigen (background). Standard errors (+/− SEM) are shown for proliferative responses tested in triplicate. Recall to intact hAQP4 is shown for comparison.