Multiple MAG peptides are recognized by circulating T and B lymphocytes in polyneuropathy and multiple sclerosis.
Abnormal immune responses to myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG), a component of myelin of the central and peripheral nervous system, have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and certain types of inflammatory polyneuropathy. To identify possible immunodominant MAG peptides in neuroinflammation, we examined T and B cell responses to five selected synthetic MAG peptides and myelin proteins in 21 patients with non-inflammatory polyneuropathy, 26 patients with MS, 10 optic neuritis patients and 17 healthy subjects. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot-forming cell assays were adopted, allowing the detection and enumeration of individual antigen responsive T and B cells in body fluids. Patients with polyneuropathy as well as those with MS had elevated levels of T and B cells recognizing MAG and its peptides. Any of the five MAG peptides under study functioned as immunodominant T and/or B cell epitope in individual subjects. None of the MAG peptides elicited a specific disease-associated T or B cell response. The enhanced T and B cell response to myelin components like MAG may play some role in initiation and/or progression of these diseases, but they could also represent secondary responses associated with myelin damage and indicate tolerization rather than autoaggressive immunity.
Andersson
M
M
Department of Neurology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. magnus.andersson@neuro.hs.sll.se
Yu
M
M
Söderström
M
M
Weerth
S
S
Baig
S
S
Solders
G
G
Link
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / Q000276:immunology*; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein