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. 2002 Dec 10;46(1):137–144. doi: 10.1016/0165-5728(93)90243-R

A novel candidate autoantigen in a multiplex family with multiple sclerosis: prevalence of T-lymphocytes specific for an MBP epitope unique to myelination

Rhonda R Voskuhl 1,∗, Dale E McFarlin 1, Laura R Tranquill 1, Gladys Deibler 1, Roger Stone 1, Heidi Maloni 1, Henry F McFarland 1
PMCID: PMC7119790  PMID: 7689584

Abstract

Although the major isoform of myelin basic protein (MBP) in the healthy adult CNS is the 18.5-kDa protein, other isoforms containing exon 2 encoded protein (21.5 kDa and 20.2 kDa) exist and are expressed primarily during myelin formation. Since remyelination is a prominent feature in MS lesions, we examined the frequencies of T cell lines (TCLs) specific for epitopes within exon 2 encoded MBP (X2MBP), and also within 18.5-kDa MBP, in members of a multiplex family with MS. TCLs specific for X2MBP were as prevalent as TCLs specific for immunodominant epitopes within 18.5-kDa MBP. In addition, while frequencies of TCLs specific for 18.5-kDa MBP were no different between the affected and unaffected, the frequency of X2MBP-specific TCLs correlated with disease.

Keywords: T lymphocyte, Myelin basic protein, Multiple sclerosis

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