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Structural aspects of recognition motifs contributing to autoimmune responses.

Sequence analysis of autoimmune-associated antibodies has suggested a structural relatedness between genes used to encode autoantibodies and those encoding unrelated antibodies without autoreactive specificities. Subsequently, the basis for cross-reactive idiotypes across germ-line lineages, as well as conserved interspecies cross-reactivities of autoantigens among serologically similar antibodies, may result from evolutionary duplication of particular types of recognition motifs. As a first step toward elucidating structural recognition principles underlying possible cross-reactive epitopes involved in autoimmune pathologies, structural features of selected motifs associated with native ligand binding are examined for their inherent occurrence in antibody and T-cell receptor repertoires. This analysis considers the putative recognition features representative of common motif subsets shared with loop structures in CDR2 and FR3 regions of antibodies such as charge-2x-charge-x-charge or hydrogen bond donor (acceptor)-2x-charge-x-hydrogen bond donor (acceptor) type motifs, where x is any residue that can participate in maintaining a loop conformation. Such tracts encoded in the CRD2 and FR3 regions of heavy chains of antibodies and T-cell receptors (TCRs) associated with autoimmune dysfunction, with non-autoreactive antibodies, and with native host proteins. Such evolutionarily conserved motifs may be targets for complementary interactions involving autoantibodies and receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Testicular injury induces cell-mediated autoimmune response to testis.

Studies on testis autoimmunity are needed for a better understanding of immunological male infertility. Evidence has accumulated that the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response plays a key role in the induction and/or maintenance of experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO), an animal model for human immunological male infertility or aspermatogenesis. We report here that an antigen-specific DTH response to autologous testicular cells (TC) could be induced by bilateral testicular injury (trauma) in mice. Pretreatment of traumatized mice with a high dose of cyclophosphamide (CY) enhances the DTH response in a dose-dependent manner. The DTH response induced by testicular injury reaches its peak on the ninth day. We have shown that the local passive transfer of the footpad reaction to normal recipients by T cells further defines the DTH reaction. These characteristics resemble those of the previously reported DTH response to syngeneic TC induced by subcutaneous immunization with viable syngeneic crude TC. Our present injury model mimics clinical testicular trauma; therefore, this testicular injury model can be very useful in studying the immunological mechanism of EAO and of human immunological male infertility.

Animals↗

Measurement of autoimmune response against collagen types I, III, and IV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and its application in infective endocarditis.

In these enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for determination of autoantibodies (IgG, IgM) against collagen type I (ACA I), III (ACA III), and IV (ACA IV), we use commercially available antigen preparations. Inhibition curves showed limited cross-reactivity between these different collagen preparations, the major interference being observed after addition of collagen type III in the ACA I procedures. Imprecision (CVs) for high- and low-titer samples ranged between 1.5% and 7.9% (within-run) and 5.5% and 12.7% (between-run) for ACA I, between 2.2-8.7% and 4.5-10.7% for ACA III, and between 1.3-5.9% and 7.4-11.6% for ACA IV. Significantly increased humoral immune response against collagen types I and III (P less than 0.001) could be demonstrated during the first month of infective endocarditis. In contrast, only borderline increases, however constant, of autoimmune response against basement-membrane collagen (ACA IV) were noticed during 90 days of follow-up.

Adult↗

Characterization of novel T-cell epitopes on 65 kDa and 67 kDa glutamic acid decarboxylase relevant in autoimmune responses in NOD mice.

It has recently been shown that the T-cell mediated immune responses to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) play an important role in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in NOD mice. However, specific epitopes responsible for eliciting these responses remain unresolved. In this study, the T-cell epitopes involved in GAD-specific immune responses in NOD mice were characterized. By priming NOD mice with GAD65, three new GAD65 epitopes (GAD65 78-97, GAD65 202-221, GAD65 217-236) distinct from those previously reported were found. Furthermore, our investigations into the fine determinant specificity of GAD67 revealed two additional GAD67-specific peptide epitopes (GAD67 28-47, GAD67 42-61). Two of the GAD65 epitopes (GAD65 202-221 and GAD65 217-236) are shared between GAD65 and GAD67. Spontaneous immune responses to these peptides were found in pre-diabetic and diabetic mice and differential patterns of responses to these peptides were observed depending on the age of the mice, disease status, or if the mice were protected from diabetes by adjuvant immunotherapy. Characterization of these new epitopes will help in the elucidation of autoimmune responses to GAD in IDDM.

Age Factors↗

Autoimmune response to U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1 snRNP) associated with cytomegalovirus infection.

The induction of autoantibodies to U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1 snRNP) complexes is not well understood. We present evidence that healthy individuals with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection have an increased frequency and quantity of antibodies to ribonucleoprotein, directed primarily against the U1-70k protein. A significant association between the presence of antibodies to CMV and antibodies to the total RNP targeted by the immune response to the spliceosome (to both the Sm and RNP; Sm/RNP) was found for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but not those with mixed connective-tissue disease. CMV thus may play a role in inducing autoimmune responses in a subset of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Adolescent↗

Selective autoimmune response to the chicken-specific structures of thyroglobulin in Obese strain chickens.

The characteristics of thyroglobulin (Tg) autoantibodies in Obese strain (OS) chickens with thyroiditis have been defined and compared with those of polyclonal antibodies to chicken Tg produced by immunizing normal chickens and a rabbit, and with mouse monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) to chicken Tg. Chicken Tg autoantibodies (aAb), when tested against Tg from 24 species all showed specificity for chicken Tg which ranged from absolute to limited although in most instances cross-reactions with Tgs of other species were either absent or at a low level. Antibodies to chicken Tg produced by immunization showed a similar limited range of cross-reactions. Four of five chTg-MoAbs were specific for chicken Tg and the fifth was almost so. In competitive experiments, the polyclonal rabbit antibody could fully inhibit binding of all chicken Tg-aAb to chicken Tg but not vice versa. It was inferred that polyclonal rabbit Tg antiserum includes antibodies to all the epitopes seen by chicken Tg-aAb and many more besides. In similar experiments with four chicken Tg-MoAbs, the binding of one chicken Tg-aAb was unaffected, and three other patterns of inhibitions were defined. The binding to chicken Tg of a fifth chicken Tg-MoAb was enhanced rather than inhibited by chicken Tg-aAb. Some but not all chicken Tg-aAb preparations could differentiate between Tgs containing different amounts of thyroxine. We conclude that the autoantibodies to Tg in OS chickens are directed in the main against determinants unique to the species. Not all the species-specific determinants are involved in the autoimmune response but the number of epitopes involved is at least four. In these respects the immune response to Tg in OS chickens resembles that in autoimmune thyroid disease in humans. The conformation of chicken Tg may be affected by combination with antibody or by the content of thyroid hormone.

Animals↗

Molecular mimicry and multiple sclerosis--a possible role for degenerate T cell recognition in the induction of autoimmune responses.

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. The etiology is unknown, but several lines of evidence support the hypothesis that the pathogenesis is mediated by autoreactive T lymphocytes. Molecular mimicry has been proposed as a possible mechanism for the development of an autoimmune response to myelin antigens. According to this model, an immune reaction to self antigens could be initiated by T cells that cross-react with infectious agents that "mimic" the autoantigen, i.e. they share immunologic epitopes. It was previously thought that, in order for a cross-reaction of T cells to two different antigens to occur, a substantial amino acid sequence homology between the two antigens was required. More recent studies on the basic mechanisms of T cell antigen recognition have shown that, at least for some T cell clones, antigen recognition is more "degenerate" and sequence homology is not required for crossreactivity to occur. This article reviews the relevance of these recent advances in basic T cell receptor immunology to the occurrence of autoimmunity in the central nervous system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Regulation of immune and autoimmune responses by ICOS-B7h interaction.

Proper T cell activation and function are regulated by the innate immune system, importantly through positive and negative costimulatory molecules of the B7 superfamily. Inducible costimulator (ICOS) is expressed on T cells after T cell activation. A ligand for ICOS, B7h (also known as B7RP-1), is expressed on B cells and induced in nonlymphoid tissues by TNF-alpha. The wide distribution of B7h may play essential roles in different phases and types of immune function. In this review, we summarize the latest data about inducible costimulator and its receptor and their roles in regulation of immune and autoimmune responses.

Animals↗

Autoimmune responses to Tamm-Horsfall protein in the pathogenesis of chronic pyelonephritis.

Although the role of bacterial infection as the major determinant in the development of acute pyelonephritis has been well documented for years, the nature of the renal scarring typical of chronic "atrophic" pyelonephritis has been a matter of controversy for at least three decades. In the past, recurrent bacterial infection of the kidney was thought to be responsible for the pathologic entity of "chronic pyelonephritis." However, more recent studies suggest that recurrent bacteriuria, in the absence of some form of obstructive uropathy, rarely produces chronic pyelonephritis. The close association between vesicoureteral reflex and chronic pyelonephritis has also been firmly established and has been observed to occur frequently in the absence of urinary tract infection. However, the mechanism by which vesicoureteral reflux injures the kidney has not been firmly established. A number of observations have suggested that some normal component of urine, particularly Tamm-Horsfall protein, might serve as an antigenic determinant involved in the immunopathogenesis of renal scarring in vesicoureteral reflux. The present studies were designed to investigate the immunopathogenic role of Tamm-Horsfall protein in a rabbit model of tubulointerstitial nephritis, and in a swine model of reflux nephropathy. The immune responses to Tamm-Horsfall protein in patients with recurrent nephrolithiasis were also examined, as were the antigenic similarities between Tamm-Horsfall protein and protein-containing components of uropathic bacteria. The results of these studies indicate that autoimmune responses to Tamm-Horsfall protein may occur after exposure to Tamm-Horsfall protein by intravenous challenge in rabbits, and by urinary reflux in pigs, as well as in recurrent nephrolithiasis in man.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The genetic basis of immune and autoimmune responses.

HLA class I and class II molecules play a major role in the presentation of short, pathogen-derived peptides to T cells, a process that initiates the adaptive cellular and humoral immune responses. However, the factors governing a cell's ability to respond or not to particular peptides are still not completely understood. Taking the example of a viral infection, in tissues infected with a virus, viral particles are taken up by antigen-presenting cells and uncoated. The viral DNA or RNA enters the nucleus, where it replicates. mRNA enters the cytosol and is transcribed into proteins. These proteins are degraded in proteasomes and the resulting peptides (8-10 residues) are loaded onto class I molecules for export to the surface of the cells. In the meantime, the groove of the class II molecules is also preparing to accommodate peptides (12-24 residues) generated by the endocytic protein-processing pathway. The surface of the infected cell then becomes adorned with peptide-loaded human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules. CD4+ T helper lymphocytes engage class II molecules and elicit responses from B cells, which will ultimately lead to antibody production, whereas CD8+ T lymphocytes become cytotoxic T cells. As a consequence, the virus is eliminated from the body. However, certain mysteries and challenges remain. How can, as an exception to this rule, an autoimmune response be the escape from the perfect machinery? This review offers some hypotheses on how to see the problem through to its solution.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

Effect of a single injection of humanized anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody on the platelet-specific autoimmune response in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Blockade of the CD40/CD154 signal is a potential immunomodulatory strategy for T-cell-mediated diseases. As a part of a phase 1, multicenter, dose-escalating trial of humanized monoclonal antibody to CD154 (IDEC-131/E6040) in patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the autoimmune response to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) was evaluated at successive time points. Five patients each were given a single infusion of 1, 2, 5, or 10 mg/kg IDEC-131/E6040 and followed for 3 months. All adverse events were mild, and there were no severe infections or thromboembolic events. No increase in platelet count was observed in patients treated at 1, 2, or 5 mg/kg, but an increase was observed in 3 patients treated at 10 mg/kg. In only the patients treated at 5 or 10 mg/kg, the frequency of B cells producing anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies, GPIIb/IIIa-induced T-cell proliferation, and anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody production by antigen-dependent T-B-cell collaboration were all suppressed in parallel after the treatment, with a slow return to baseline. In contrast, T-cell response to an irrelevant antigen was not affected. These findings suggest that CD40/CD154 blockade therapy is potentially effective for refractory ITP, through selective suppression of autoreactive T and B cells to platelet antigens.

Adult↗

Interleukin-10 genotypes are associated with systemic sclerosis and influence disease-associated autoimmune responses.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) is a connective tissue disease, characterized by fibrotic, immunological, and vascular abnormalities. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that modulates collagen production and B-cell survival. To determine if certain IL-10 genotypes are risk factors for the development of SSc and influence disease-associated autoimmune responses, 248 Caucasian and 264 Japanese SSc patients and controls were genotyped for three loci: -3575, -2849, and -2763. Sera from patients were characterized for SSc-associated autoantibodies. In Caucasians, at -3575 and -2763, the frequency of AA homozygotes was higher in patients as compared with controls (P=0.0005; P=0.002). In Japanese subjects, the frequency of AC heterozygotes at -2763 was higher, and that of CC homozygotes lower, in patients with diffuse SSc as compared to controls (P=0.04). Particular IL-10 genotypes were associated with SSc-related autoantibodies. These results suggest that IL-10 genotypes contribute to the etiology of scleroderma.

Autoimmunity↗

Antigen-induced inhibition of autoimmune response to rat male accessory glands: distinct characteristics of I-A- and I-E-positive peritoneal cells.

The present report describes different aspects of two populations of peritoneal cells (PC) obtained from rats injected i.p. 2 h or 24 h previously with a suppressor dose of a purified fraction (FI) of rat male accessory glands (RAG) (FI-PC2h and FI-PC24h, respectively). The FI-PC2h, which are mainly I-E (OX17) positive and can suppress the autoimmune response to RAG autoantigens, have an elevated phagocytic activity against Candida albicans and capacity to reduce the dye nitroblue tetrazolium. In contrast, FI-PC24h, which are mainly I-A (OX6) positive and can potentiate the autoimmunity to RAG autoantigens, have a diminished capacity to reduce the dye and a diminished phagocytic activity. Moreover, the Toxoplasma gondii appear to have a different effect on both populations. The parasites can invade FI-PC2h while FI-PC24h offer resistance to T. gondii aggression. FI-PC2h cultured during 22 h (FI-PC2-24h in vitro), or PC obtained from syngeneic recipients injected i.p. 22 h previously with FI-PC2h (FI-PC2-24h in vivo) show, as FI-PC2h, an increase of the I-E+ cells and capacity to induce suppression of the delayed-type hypersensitivity response to RAG autoantigens when they are injected to syngeneic rats 10 and 3 days prior to the immunization with chemically modified (diazotized arsanilic and sulfanilic acid) RAG in complete Freund's adjuvant. The PC obtained 24 h after injection of irradiated rats with N-PC plus FI show an increase of I-E+ cells whereas an enhancement of I-A+ cells can be observed when the PC are obtained 24 h after injection of irradiated and bone marrow-reconstituted rats with N-PC plus FI. These findings appear to indicate that FI-PC2h and FI-PC24h are functionally different and that the population obtained 24 h after injection of FI of RAG could not originate from either the population present 2 h after injection of FI of RAG injection nor from normal PC. They appear to require bone marrow precursors.

Animals↗

Presence of antibodies to ubiquitin during the autoimmune response associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were shown to react with both ubiquitin and a synthetic fragment of it (residues 22-45) in an ELISA and with ubiquitin in immunoblotting experiments. Close to 80% of lupus patients possessed ubiquitin antibodies, whereas only 55% of them possessed native DNA antibodies, a marker of SLE. Less than 16% of patients with other rheumatic autoimmune diseases possessed antibodies to ubiquitin. Our results indicate that the combined measurement of antibodies to native DNA and to ubiquitin could appreciably increase the detection of SLE cases (up to 85% in our study). It is suggested that ubiquitin, a heat shock protein, could be involved in antibody formation against ubiquitin-protein conjugates present during cellular injury and that this represents a major characteristic of the autoimmune response in SLE.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

Adoptive transfer of suppression of autoimmune response to rat male accessory glands with spleen mononuclear cells from antigen-pretreated rats.

The injection of the spleen mononuclear (SpM) cells, obtained from rats rendered unresponsive to autoantigen of rat male accessory glands (RAG) by pretreatment with low doses of purified fraction of RAG (containing the autoantigen), into normal syngeneic recipients markedly prevented the development of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to the autoantigen (suppression of the induction) (p less than 0.001). The humoral response was not altered. The control animals were rat receptors of spleen mononuclear cells from donor rats pretreated with rat lung saline extract or 0.15 M NaCl. In contrast, the transference of SpM cells from donor rats pretreated with low doses of autoantigen prior to the immunization to rats previously immunized, did not modify the expression of the immune response against the autoantigen when compared with control rats. The suppression of the induction of DTH response was also obtained when prior to the immunization, the recipients received T-cell-enriched SpM cell population from unresponsive animals (p less than 0.001), but not when they were injected with B-cell-enriched SpM cells. These results suggest that suppressor T cells capable of controlling induction of the autoimmune response against RAG autoantigen might be one of the immunoregulatory mechanisms that are activated when soluble autoantigen of RAG enter into circulation.

Animals↗

Molecular mimicry and the autoimmune response to the peripheral nerve myelin P0 glycoprotein.

In the Lewis rat immunisation with the myelin P0 glycoprotein can induce an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the peripheral nervous system, experimental allergic neuritis (EAN), which has many clinical and histopathological parallels with the human disease the Guillain-Barre syndrome. In view of the reported association of GBS with a number of infectious agents we have investigated whether "molecular mimicry" may occur between microbial antigens and the P0 protein that could possibly trigger a similar pathogenic autoimmune response in man. A computer search of the available protein sequence data bases identified several absolute sequence homologies between P0 and viral proteins that involve five or more consecutive amino acid residues. Four of these sequence homologies involved viral pathogens previously associated with the Guillain-Barre syndrome, namely Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Varicella zoster virus (VZV) and human immunodeficiency virus I (HIV I). Although, sequence homologies were also found between viral peptides and the neuritogenic determinants of P0, residues 56-71 and 180-199, these homologies proved incapable of eliciting EAN in the Lewis rat. These observations are discussed with reference to the role that molecular mimicry between T cell epitopes on pathogen derived antigens and the P0 protein may play in the pathogenesis of the Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Autoimmune response directed against conserved determinants of nuclear envelope proteins in a patient with linear scleroderma.

We have studied the autoantibodies in the serum of a patient with linear scleroderma that specifically recognize the nuclear envelope of cultured cells. These antibodies bind to conserved determinants of nuclear lamins, the predominant mammalian nuclear envelope proteins. Of the three mammalian nuclear lamin proteins (970, P68, and P60), only P70 and P60 bind the autoantibodies. In addition, two proteins of the Drosophila embryonic nuclear matrix, P70 and P68, bind these autoantibodies. We have used nuclear matrices to isolate the autoantibodies from the patient's serum that react to the nuclear lamins. At least three different IgG heavy chains were found to be involved in this autoimmune response to nuclear lamins, indicating that this response is not due to the expansion of a single B-cell clone.

Adult↗

[Autoimmune response following administration of a protein preparation from the caudate nuclei of cattle brains to rabbits].

Plasma membranes of bovine caudate nuclei were solubilized by means of Triton X-100. Detergent-extracted membrane proteins were separated by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and the affinity adsorbent proposed for the isolation of nicotinic cholinergic receptor protein (N-ChR) from Torpedo electrical organ. Half of the rabbits immunized with purified protein preparation developed a syndrome of myasthenia type. This effect resembled the autoimmune response to N-ChR from fish electrical organs. It is assumed that the N-ChR present in the caudate nucleus has antigen determinants similar to N-ChRs of the electrical organs and skeletal muscles.

Animals↗