The alpha L beta 2 integrin adhesion molecule LFA-1 is believed to be involved in the migration of autoreactive T cells to the central nervous system across the endothelial blood-brain barrier in experimental autoimmune encephalomyclitis (EAE). Here, we demonstrate that the incidence and clinical scores of EAE in LFA-1(-/-) mice induced by the immunization with the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-peptide antigen were significantly lower than those in wild type mice. Further studies demonstrated that lymphocytes recruitment to the draining lymph nodes (dLN) after the immunization with the MOG-peptide was severely suppressed in LFA-1(-/-) mice. Moreover, generation of the MOG-specific IL-17-producing helper T (Th17) cells in the dLN was impaired in LFA-1(-/-) mice. These results suggest that LFA-I may play an important role for the generation of MOG-specific Th17 cells in the dLN as well as the immigration of MOG-specific naive CD4(+) T cells to the dLN. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.