Idiotopic sequences are created after V, D and J recombinations and by somatic mutations during affinity maturation of immuglobulin (Ig) molecules, and may therefore be potential immunogenic epitopes. Idiotope-specific T cells are able to activate and sustain the B cells producing such idiotopes. It is therefore possible that idiotope-specific intrathecal T cells could help maintain the persisting intrathecal synthesis of oligoclonal IgG observed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study was undertaken to examine T-cell responses to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 14 of 21 MS patients and four of 17 control patients with other neurological diseases proliferated upon stimulation with autologous C SF IgG, while five and three, respectively, responded to serum IgG. By comparison, responses to myelin basic protein were recorded in only four MS and three control patients. Data from a limited number of patients indicate that the C SF IgG responsive cells were CD4+ and human leucocyte antigen DR restricted, that PBMC also respond to C SF IgG from other MS patients and that the C SF may contain T cells responding to autologous C SF IgG. This suggests that C SF IgG, or substances bound to this IgG, may represent T-cell immunogens, which could contribute to the intrathecal immune response in MS.
HLA typing and T-cell subpopulations in multiple sclerosis.