The human CMV-UL86 peptide 981–1003 shares a crossreactive T-cell epitope with the encephalitogenic MOG peptide 34–56, but lacks the capacity to induce EAE in rhesus monkeys

Abstract Rhesus monkeys immunized with MOG34–56 , a dominant T-cell epitope from myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, develop an acute neurological disease resembling acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in humans. The typical large demyelinated lesions and mononuclear infiltrates in the monkey brains are caused by MOG34–56 T-cells. We show that MOG34–56 -reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells are induced in monkeys immunized with a peptide from the human CMV major capsid protein (UL86; 981–1003), that shares sequence similarity with MOG34–56 . Monkeys sensitized against the viral peptide and subsequently challenged with MOG34–56 display histological signs of encephalitis, but do not show overt neurological signs.