Myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein: identification of an encephalitogenic epitope and association with multiple sclerosis.

Myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP) is an abundant myelin constituent expressed exclusively by oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells of the CNS. We report that MOBP causes experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and is associated with multiple sclerosis. First, we note that purified recombinant MOBP inoculated into SJL/J mice produces CNS disease. Tests of overlapping peptides spanning the murine MOBP molecule map the encephalitogenic site to amino acids 37–60. MOBP-induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis shows a severe clinical course and is characterized by a prominent CD4+ T lymphocyte infiltration and a lesser presence of CD8+ T cells and microglia/macrophages around vessels and in the white matter of the CNS. Second, PBL obtained from patients with relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis mount a proliferative response to human MOBP, especially at amino acids 21–39. This response equals or exceeds the response to myelin basic protein and an influenza virus hemagglutinin peptide, both serving as internal controls. Thus, a novel myelin Ag, MOBP aa 37–60, plays a role in rodent autoimmune CNS disease, and its human MOBP counterpart is associated with the human demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis.