Induction of alternative splicing of HLA-B27 by bacterial invasion.
OBJECTIVE
Alternative splicing of certain class I major histocompatibility complex pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) is known to lead to generation of a cell-free soluble protein analog. This study was undertaken to examine whether this process occurs with HLA-B27, whether the process is modified by arthritis-causing bacteria, and whether the assembly of the soluble molecules follows the same pathway as the integral parent molecules.


METHODS
Alternative splicing of pre-mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and assembly of soluble HLA-B27 by immunoprecipitation followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography.


RESULTS
There was alternative splicing of the pre-mRNA of HLA-B27. The process could be amplified by invasion with Salmonella or Yersinia bacteria. The soluble HLA-B27 was assembled in a pathway similar to that of the parent molecule.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between arthritis-causing bacteria and HLA-B27 positive cells is a complex event. Soluble HLA-B27 is a potential key player.
Huang
F
F
University of California Los Angeles, 90095-167022, USA.
Yamaguchi
A
A
Tsuchiya
N
N
Ikawa
T
T
Tamura
N
N
Virtala
M M
MM
Granfors
K
K
Yasaei
P
P
Yu
D T
DT
D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line / Q000382:microbiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000502:physiology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D012329:RNA, Bacterial