Induction of an organ-specific autoimmune disease, lymphocytic hypophysitis, in hamsters by recombinant rubella virus glycoprotein and prevention of disease by neonatal thymectomy.
Glycosylated, membrane-associated E1 (58-kDa) and E2 (47- to 49-kDa) rubella virus proteins and unglycosylated nucleoprotein C (33 kDa), from separately expressed vaccinia virus recombinants, were injected into golden Syrian hamsters. Rubella virus E1 and E2 glycoproteins consistently induced an organ-specific autoimmune disease, autoimmune lymphocytic hypophysitis, which was evidenced by the induction of autoantibodies against pituitary cells and by lymphocytic infiltration of the pituitary. Neonatal thymectomy prevented the disease. In contrast, rubella virus nucleoprotein C did not induce either autoantibodies against pituitary cells or lymphocytic infiltration of the pituitary. This finding raises the possibility that virus-specific protein itself can induce an organ-specific autoimmune disease in certain circumstances.
Yoon
J W
JW
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Julia McFarlane Diabetes Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Choi
D S
DS
Liang
H C
HC
Baek
H S
HS
Ko
I Y
IY
Jun
H S
HS
Gillam
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006224:Cricetinae; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006031:Glycosylation; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013934:Thymectomy; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C074573:nucleocapsid protein (C), rubella virus; C061826:E1 envelope protein, Rubella virus; C061827:E2 envelope protein, Rubella virus