An autoantibody cross-reactive to hepatitis C virus core and a host nuclear antigen.
GOR, an epitope borne by the amino acid sequence, GRRGQKAKSNPNRPL, is recognized by anti-GOR antibodies specifically found in patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH). The epitope is not coded for by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), the presumed causative agent for NANBH, but by a single copy gene of the host. Anti-GOR antibodies, distinct from anti-HCV (c100-3) antibodies, were revealed to have dual specificities; they target both the presumed core gene product of HCV and a host component. This cross recognition is probably derived from homologous regions between the GOR epitope and a viral epitope on the core protein in HCV. It is therefore suggested that anti-GOR is an autoantibody induced by HCV infection. This may explain the autoimmune disease like aspect of NANBH pathogenesis.
Mishiro
S
S
Institute of Immunology, Tokyo, Japan.
Takeda
K
K
Hoshi
Y
Y
Yoshikawa
A
A
Gotanda
T
T
Itoh
Y
Y
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D014758:Viral Core Proteins