LOSS OF ENCEPHALITOGENICITY OF A MYELIN BASIC PROTEIN-SPECIFIC T-CELL LINE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PHENOTYPIC CHANGE BUT NOT WITH ALTERATION IN PRODUCTION OF INTERLEUKIN-2, GAMMA-INTERFERON OR TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR

Continued stimulation of a CD4+ myelin basic protein-specific T cell line led to loss of in vivo encephalitogenic activity but no alteration in ability of the line to produce interleukin-2, γ-interferon or tumour necrosis factor. Loss of encephalitogenicity was, however, associated with an increased presence of CD4+ CD8+ cells which likely represents preferential outgrowth of this population. The possible in vivo relevance of these findings is discussed. © 1990.