A natural anti-T-cell receptor monoclonal antibody protects against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

The therapeutic potential of natural anti-T-cell receptor (TCR) antibodies is largely unknown. We investigated whether passive administration of C1-19, a novel natural anti-TCRVβ8 monoclonal antibody, could interfere with the development of EAE. Treatment with C1-19 prevented myelin basic protein (MBP)-induced EAE in Vβ8-sufficient B10.PL but not in Vβ8-deficient SJL mice. Furthermore, C1-19 reduced disease severity when administrated shortly after disease onset. These protective effects of C1-19 correlated with a Th2 bias of the cytokine response, in the absence of T-cell deletion or anergy. Together, these findings indicate that natural anti-TCR antibodies could function as therapeutic tools in autoimmune inflammatory diseases.