title: HLA-B27/microbial mimicry: an in vivo analysis.
abstract: The association between three major spondyloarthritic diseases, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, and reactive arthritis, and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class 1 antigen HLA-B27 is well documented. The hypothesis of cross-reactivity between HLA-B27 and the antecedent infection-causing Gram-negative pathogens such as Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia has been suggested by in vitro studies employing monoclonal antibodies. We have examined the possibility of such cross-reactivity in vivo using various rabbit immune sera and patient sera as the source of cross-reacting antibody. Mouse L cells were transfected with HLA-A3 or HLA-B27 and used as a source of antigen. Western blot analysis employing denatured antigen, FACS analysis employing native antigen and immunoprecipitation studies were undertaken to detect cross-reacting antibodies generated in vivo to HLA-B27 antigen. Antibodies generated in vivo by infection in patients or immunization in animals against arthritogenic bacteria did not demonstrate any cross-reactivity with HLA-B27 by any of the methods used. As defined by the humoral immune response, molecular mimicry appears unlikely to explain the role of B27 in the pathogenesis of reactive arthritis.
authors: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kapasi
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Chui
authors: R D
authors: RD
authors: Inman
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D003429:Cross Reactions; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000276:immunology; D012760:Shigella / Q000276:immunology; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen