Dr. Swanborg is studying autoimmune encephalomyelitis, which provides a model for the human demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis. Autoreactive T lymphocytes specific for myelin exist in the normal host. Although these have the potential to invade the central nervous system to induce autoimmune disease, they are usually inactive. Current studies are addressing the mechanisms by which these autoreactive T cells might inadvertently become activated to induce encephalomyelitis. Other studies relate to mechanisms by which other lymphocytes regulate the activation of the autoreactive T cells. Immunological and molecular biological approaches are being employed in these studies. The long-term objective of Dr. Swanborg's ongoing investigation is to elucidate the mechanisms that govern the induction and regulation of autoimmune disease with the hope of gaining insight into the etiology of human demyelinating diseases.