Inhibition of entire myelin basic protein-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats by major histocompatibility complex class II-binding competitor peptides.

Previous studies have shown that major histocompatibility complex (MHC) blockade by competitor peptides with high MHC class II binding affinity can prevent peptide-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, none of these studies addressed the question whether this approach could also be used to prevent EAE induced with a multivalent antigen. In this report we show the effect of competitor peptides co-immunized during EAE induction with entire guinea pig myelin basic protein (MBP) in Lewis rats. As MHC class II binding competitor peptides we used one nonimmunogenic disease-nonrelated peptide, and two immunogenic peptides, one EAE-related and one non-EAE-related. The respective efficacy of these three competitor peptides to inhibit MBP-induced proliferation of an encephalitogenic T cell line in vitro correlated with their respective MHC binding affinity. Co-immunization of the competitor peptides during disease induction with entire MBP resulted in a competitor concentration-dependent inhibition of clinical signs of EAE. These results demonstrate that, although polyclonal T cell responses to MBP were not completely inhibited, co-administration of immunogenic or nonimmunogenic either EAE-related or non-EAE-related MHC class II binding competitor peptides can inhibit the development of EAE induced with entire MBP.