Production of thyroid-stimulating antibodies in mice by immunization with T-cell epitopes of human thyrotropin receptor.
We examined whether mice, immunized with TSH receptor (TSH-R) peptides, which are known to be T-cell epitopes in patients with Graves' disease, would show thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb). We immunized DBA/1J mice with TSH-R peptide amino acids 132-150, 145-163, 158-176, and 172-186 and with a pool of these four peptides. The antibodies produced in these mice were evaluated by measurement of TSAb activity using Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human TSH-R. Seven of 20 mice showed TSAb activity that could be partially blocked with TSH-R peptides. To assess the role of T-cell epitope-specific T-cells in the production of TSAb, we transferred a T-cell line developed from a TSAb-positive mouse to other syngeneic DBA/1J mice. Two of 4 recipient mice showed TSAb activities. These findings suggest that specific T-cell epitopes of TSH-R play a crucial role in the production of TSAb.
Hidaka
Y
Y
Thyroid Study Unit, University of Chicago, Illinois 60637.
Guimaraes
V
V
Soliman
M
M
Yanagawa
T
T
Okamoto
Y
Y
Quintans
J
J
DeGroot
L J
LJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006224:Cricetinae; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D007114:Immunization; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection
D000939:Epitopes; D018828:Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D000242:Cyclic AMP