The suppressive effect of anti-L3T4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) on murine experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by sensitization with proteolipid apoprotein (PLP) was examined in vivo and in vitro. This mAb inhibited the antigen-specific proliferation of the encephalitogenic T cell lines but did not block the mitogen-mediated response. Serial injections of the mAb during the pre-effector phase of EAE markedly suppressed the development and relapse of the disease but this treatment initiated after appearance of clinical signs was not effective. In treated animals, L3T4+ T cells in the spleen were profoundly decreased and the antigen-specific proliferative response of spleen cells was completely suppressed. Moreover, adoptive transfer of spleen cells from the treated mice induced resistance against EAE induction in the recipients. However, no obvious evidence for antigen-specific suppressor cells was found in vitro in the L3T4- populations of spleen cells from treated mice.