Pathogenic T cells in MOBP-induced murine EAE are predominantly focused to recognition of MOBP21F and MOBP27P epitopic residues.

Myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP) is a central nervous system (CNS)-specific myelin constituent important in stabilizing the unique multi-layered structure of the CNS-myelin sheath. Although autoimmunity against MOBP has been associated with multiple sclerosis pathogenesis, anti-MOBP pathogenic T cells have been poorly investigated as compared to T cells against other encephalitogenic myelin proteins. We have recently determined MOBP15-36 as the major encephalitogenic epitope of MOBP for SJL/J mice. In this study, epitope-specificity was dissected to the level of residues crucial for activation/control of MOBP-specific encephalitogenic T cells. Structural bioinformatic analysis of MOBP15-36/I-A(s) interaction and experimental data have determined MOBP21F and MOBP27P of I-A(s)-binding nonameric core epitope (MOBP20-28) as TCR-contact residues critical for functional activation of encephalitogenic MOBP-specific T cells. Accordingly, the non-encephalitogenic/nonstimulatory pMOBP16-21A27A-33 inhibited encephalitogenic MOBP-reactive T cells, shifted their cytokine secretion profile, and effectively suppressed pMOBP15-36-induced EAE. Moreover, pMOBP16-21A27A-33 fully reversed ongoing clinical EAE induced by whole MOBP as well as by pMOBP15-36. Data show that encephalitogenic MOBP-reactive T cells are predominantly focused to recognition of MOBP21F and MOBP27P, and suggest that both their selection and control are governed by MOBP21F and MOBP27P epitopic residues. Such focused epitopic recognition may affect profoundly on peripheral self-tolerance to MOBP and on potential altered peptide ligand-mediated therapy of MOBP-related autoimmune pathogenesis.

Modulated splicing-associated gene expression in P19 cells expressing distinct acetylcholinesterase splice variants.

Alternative splicing configurations and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene expression are both modified in neurons under stress. However, it is unclear if these phenomena are functionally interrelated. Using a home-made spotted microarray focused on splicing-associated transcripts, we tested the effects of excess 3' splice variants of human AChE on splicing-related gene expression in semi-differentiated neuronal P19 cells. Of the tested transcripts, 17.3% and 20.2% showed modified expression levels (log2 of the ratio<-0.3 or>0.3) in transfected P19 cells overexpressing the stress-inducible AChE-R variant or the synaptic AChE-S protein, respectively. Multiple transcripts encoding serine-arginine rich (SR) and SR-related splicing regulators were suppressed in cells expressing either of these variants, whereas the gene groups including splicing-related helicases and transcripts involved in apoptosis displayed variant-specific changes. Our findings are compatible with the assumption that both neuronal overexpression and alternative splicing of pre-AChE mRNA may be causally involved in initiating global changes in neuronal alternative splicing, causing subsequent modifications in the expression patterns of numerous target genes.