Immune abnormalities induced by human endogenous retroviral peptides: with reference to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus.
P15E is a specific sequence among the envelope gene (env)-encoded transmembrane proteins of exogenous and endogenous retroviruses. A synthetic peptide (CKS- 17) that shows homology to this p15E region in several species of retrovirus is known to induce immune abnormalities. In this study, we examined the effect of a synthetic peptide derived from a region of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) clone 4-1 (lambda4 - 1) similar to sequences of CKS-17 on the induction of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related immune abnormalities. Our results indicated that this peptide could induce T-cell activation and anergy in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and the peptide could also promote the production of interleukins IL-6 and IL-16. These phenomena are representative immune abnormalities observed in SLE patients. Thus, our findings support the possibility that HERV acts as a pathogen in human SLE.
Department of General Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Toshio
T
Naito
Hitoshi
H
Ogasawara
Hiroshi
H
Kaneko
Takashi
T
Hishikawa
Iwao
I
Sekigawa
Hiroshi
H
Hashimoto
Naoki
N
Maruyama
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D019410:Interleukin-16 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D019410:Interleukin-16; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010455:Peptides; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins