title: Myelin basic protein epitopes secreted by human T cells encounter natural autoantibodies in the serum.
abstract: A previously isolated and characterized IgM monoclonal antibody (mAb 1H6.2) specific to myelin basic protein (MBP) and to MBP epitopes expressed by nonneural cells was used to immunoprecipitate and investigate the expression of MBP epitopes by human T cells. Peripheral T lymphocytes secreted MBP epitopes, and secretion increased in time after mitogen stimulation. Conversely, thymocytes secreted these proteins independently on mitogen stimulation. Specific antibody reactivity (primarily due to IgG3) towards immunoprecipitated MBP epitopes was found in all tested sera from healthy donors and from multiple sclerosis patients as well as in sera from normal human cord blood. Collectively, these data provide insights into the immunological mechanisms leading to central and peripheral tolerance to MBP products.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Patologia, Università di Verona, c/o Policlinico G.B. Rossi, I-37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerriero
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zoccatelli
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sartoris
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cestari
authors.forename: Anna Pia
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Riviera
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tridente
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andrighetto
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chignola
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D008998:Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D007106:Immune Sera; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein