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Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the Lewis rat is a self-limited inflammatory process localized to the central nervous system that is induced by the injection of myelin basic protein (MBP) in adjuvant. Oral administration of MBP suppresses EAE, and this suppression is mediated by CD8+ T cells that adoptively transfer protection and suppress both in vitro and in vivo by the release of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta after antigen-specific triggering. Furthermore, oral tolerance to MBP is enhanced by the concomitant oral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The present study was undertaken to determine whether the disease course in EAE and its suppression by oral tolerization to MBP is associated with distinct patterns of cytokine expression in the target organ. Detailed immunohistology of the brain was performed at the peak of clinical disease (day 14 after immunization) and after …