Autoantibodies to cryptic epitopes of C-reactive protein and other acute phase proteins in the toxic oil syndrome.
Toxic oil syndrome (TOS) was caused by the consumption of rapeseed oil contaminated with derivatives of aniline. Many persons who survived the acute phase developed a puzzling, multi-year chronic disease considered to be inflammatory or autoimmune in nature. In attempting to characterize their autoantibodies, we found that 74% of TOS patients with chronic disease had IgG antibodies to C-reactive protein (CRP). This activity was detectable only when CRP was chemically or physically denatured and behaved like a previously described antibody produced by immunization with the CRP monomer. Significant antibody reactivities to other acute phase proteins, especially alpha 1-antitrypsin and fibrinogen (P < 0.025) and ceruloplasmin (P < 0.05) were also observed. IgG antibodies to cryptic epitopes in CRP and other major serum proteins that increase during the acute phase response may reflect an earlier toxin-mediated insult to the liver that included abnormal biosynthesis of and/or damage to acute phase proteins.
Bell
S A
SA
W.M. Keck Autoimmune Disease Center, Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Du Clos
T W
TW
Khursigara
G
G
Picazo
J J
JJ
Rubin
R L
RL
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000506:poisoning; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D001937:Brassica; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000276:immunology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000276:immunology
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D000939:Epitopes; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; C023650:aniline