title: Mapping of topoisomerase II alpha epitopes recognized by autoantibodies in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
abstract: Autoantibodies against DNA topoisomerase II alpha have been identified in the sera of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). To map topoisomerase II autoepitopes, we tested by ELISA and immunoblotting the IPF anti-topoisomerase II-positive sera against a series of recombinant proteins which covered the full length of topoisomerase II alpha. Specific patterns of reactivity were observed, indicating the existence of multiple epitopes on topoisomerase II, either highly complex or conformational/discontiguous or conformational/contiguous ones. The latter resided in amino acid residues 854-1147 and 1370-1447. A detailed analysis of these regions was undertaken, but we were not able to pinpoint a sequential peptide-sized epitope, or any significant homology with foreign pathogens. Further, we observed a significant correlation between the progression from a contiguous to a quaternary/tertiary structure-dependent autoepitope and the disease duration but not with the disease severity. Therefore, this result supports the hypothesis that anti-topoisomerase II autoreactivity evolves following an antigen-driven process.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Immunologia e Genetica, Istituto di Ricerca Codivilla Putti, Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli (I.O.R.), Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grigolo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mazzetti
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Borzì
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Hickson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fasano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meliconi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Facchini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000276:immunology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001323:Autoantibodies; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D007527:Isoenzymes; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II