Myelin basic protein intramolecular spreading without disease progression in a patient with multiple sclerosis.
A case with stable multiple sclerosis (MS) and T cell responses which initially focused on peptide 16-38 of myelin basic protein (MBP) allowed us to investigate the dynamics of the MBP-specific T cell repertoire and its relationship with disease progression. Epitope mapping experiments and T cell receptor usage of MBP-reactive T cell lines (obtained at four distinct time points over a 7-year period) showed a spreading of the response. Transient expansions and persistence of T cells recognizing different MBP epitopes were also detected. The patient's expanded disability status scale and magnetic resonance imaging lesion load remained stable. Our case shows both persistent self-recognitions and determinant spreading in stable MS. This finding suggests that the relationship between dynamics of self-recognition and disease progression is highly complex.
Ristori
G
G
Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche, Università 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy.
Giubilei
F
F
Giunti
D
D
Perna
A
A
Gasperini
C
C
Buttinelli
C
C
Salvetti
M
M
Uccelli
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D018450:Disease Progression; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein