Peptidic sequence "HSEAETGPP" is recognized by the sera of pars planitis patients.

PURPOSE: HLA class II, p-36 protein, heat shock protein and retinal antigens have been associated with pars planitis (PP), but their participation in the development of the disease are unknown. A search for new molecules related to PP is necessary. This work focused on the identification of peptides recognized by PP patient sera using the phage display method. METHODS: Sera of PP patients were used to isolate peptides fused to M13-phage pIII protein. The response of PP and healthy sera to peptides was determined by ELISA. PCR amplification and sequencing of peptide-encoding fragments from clones with high recognition by PP sera were used to characterize displayed peptides. RESULTS: One hundred clones were randomly selected from a phage display library after three panning rounds using serum proteins from a PP patient. The immunologic response level of 100 clones selected were determined with a major number of patients, it was found that one clone was recognized stronger in PP patients sera than in healthy sera (PP vs. healthy; P < 0.05). The peptide-encoding region of this clone was sequenced and translated. The peptide sequence corresponded to HSEAETGPP. An identical amino acid sequence to HSEAETGPP is found in the human proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 which has not been related with eye diseases. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the peptide HSEAETGPP is associated with PP.

Identification, quantitation, and purification of a 36 kDa circulating protein associated with active pars planitis.

PURPOSE: To establish a correlation between the presence of a 36 kDa protein in the blood of patients with pars planitis and to characterize and purify this protein. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from patients with pars planitis and other types of uveitis and from various controls. Samples were treated with polyethelene glycol and protein A and were analyzed on 10% SDS-PAGE for the presence of a 36 kDa protein. Quantitative estimation of the level of this protein was determined by densitometric tracing of the stained gels. Polyclonal antibodies were raised by immunizing New Zealand White rabbits with a mixture of the gel fragment containing the 36 kDa protein (p-36) and complete Freund's adjuvant. These antibodies were used in the immunoaffinity purification of this protein. RESULTS: The levels of p-36 were sixfold to eightfold higher in 81% of the patients with active pars planitis than in controls (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the levels of this protein correlated with disease activity. A partial amino terminal sequence analysis revealed that p-36 may be a novel protein. It has been purified from the patient's blood using affinity chromatography. CONCLUSIONS: A 36 kDa protein (p-36) is found in elevated concentrations in the blood of many patients with active pars planitis. Its putative role in the etiopathogenesis of pars planitis is unknown.

Molecular cloning, sequencing, and expression of the 36 kDa protein present in pars planitis. Sequence homology with yeast nucleopore complex protein.

PURPOSE: Patients with active pars planitis have increased levels of a 36 kDa protein (p-36) in their circulation. The current studies were undertaken to determine the primary structure of this protein. METHODS: A degenerate oligonucleotide probe based on the amino terminal sequence of p-36 was used to identify a clone from a human spleen cDNA library. The cDNA insert was subcloned into the EcoR1 site of pUC-19, and both strands were sequenced. Southern blot analysis was used to study the genomic hybridization pattern. p-36 cDNA was subcloned in a pSG5 expression vector, and the construct was used to transfect COS-7 cells. RESULTS: The cDNA sequence contained an open reading frame of 966 base pairs encoding a protein of 322 amino acids, an untranslated region of 322 base pairs, and 2693 base pairs at the 5' and 3' ends, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 96.8% identity with the carboxy-terminal region of a yeast nucleopore complex protein, nup 100. Southern blot analysis of human genomic DNA revealed a simple hybridization pattern. Transfection of p-36 cDNA in COS-7 cells resulted in the presence of p-36 mRNA and expression of protein. CONCLUSIONS: The 36 kDa protein (p-36) detected at increased levels in the blood of patients with active pars planitis was cloned from a human spleen cDNA library. Its deduced amino acid sequence is homologous with the carboxy-terminal region of a nucleopore complex protein. Thus, we refer to this protein as nup36.

Serum levels of interleukin-2 receptor in ocular Behçet's disease.

Serum interleukin-2 receptor levels were evaluated in 69 patients who had chronic bilateral uveitis and in 22 control subjects. Fifty-one of the 69 patients with uveitis had the ocular type of Behçet's disease and 18 had pars planitis (intermediate uveitis). The mean serum interleukin-2 receptor level was 412.6 +/- 94.6 U/ml for the control group, 465.0 +/- 96.6 U/ml for the patients with intermediate uveitis, and 810.9 +/- 369.3 U/ml for those with ocular Behçet's disease. The serum interleukin-2 receptor levels of patients with ocular Behçet's disease were significantly different from the levels of both the control and the intermediate uveitis groups (P < .001). The differences in serum levels of patients with intermediate uveitis and the levels of the control subjects were not statistically significant. Treatment of patients with ocular Behçet's disease for four to six weeks with either cyclosporine, methylprednisolone, or a combination of both, decreased the intraocular inflammation in nearly all cases. The influence of treatment on the level of serum interleukin-2 receptor, however, was variable.