The processing and presentation of endogenous and exogenous antigen by Schwann cells in vitro

The expression of major histocomatibility complex class II in vitro and in vivo by Schwann cells indicates a potential facultative role of Schwann cells in the presentation of antigen to neuritogenic T cells during inflammatory demyelinating neuropathies. Using a T cell proliferation assay, this study demonstrated that processing and presentation of endogenous and exogenous antigen by Schwann cells influences T cell proliferation. Statistical analysis of proliferation and its relation to processing and presentation of antigen by Schwann cells had not been previously addressed. Different combinations of factors including treatment of cultures (untreated, irradiated or fixed), concentration of exogenous antigen (0 or 40 μmg/ml), the presence of interferon-γ and the timing of exogenous antigen addition influence the proliferation P₂-specific, non-mammalian protein ovalbumin-specific T cell lines and naive T cells. Received 25 July 2002; received after revision 9 September 2002; accepted 7 October 2002