A viral peptide with limited homology to a self peptide can induce clinical signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
J Immunol
; 161(1): 60-4, 1998 Jul 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9647207
ABSTRACT
Molecular mimicry has been suggested as a mode of autoreactive T cell stimulation in autoimmune diseases. Myelin basic protein (MBP) peptide 1-11 induces experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in susceptible strains of mice. Here we show that a herpesvirus Saimiri (HVS) peptide, AAQRRPSRPFA, with a limited homology to MBP1-11 peptide, ASQKRPSQRHG (underlined letters showing homology), can stimulate a panel of MBP-11-specific T cell hybridomas and more importantly cause EAE in mice. We demonstrate that this is due to cross-recognition of these two peptides by TCRs. Results presented in this communication are the first demonstration that a viral peptide with homology at just 5 amino acids with a self peptide can induce clinical signs of EAE in mice. These findings have important implications in understanding the breakdown of T cell tolerance to self Ags in autoimmune diseases by means of cross-reactivity with unrelated peptides.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Peptide Fragments
/
Autoantigens
/
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
/
Myelin Basic Protein
/
Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental
/
Antigens, Viral
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
J Immunol
Year:
1998
Document type:
Article