Evaluation of autoimmunity to transaldolase in multiple sclerosis.
Transaldolase is a target of autoimmunity mediated by T cells and antibody (Ab) in patients with multiple sclerosis. Functional T-cell assays, T- and B-cell epitope mapping, and detection of transaldolase-specific antibodies in patients with multiple sclerosis are described. Recombinant transaldolase was produced in a prokaryotic expression vector for use in Western blot analysis of sera of these patients. Overlapping transaldolase peptides 15 amino acids (aa) long were synthesized onto cellulose membranes to map immunodominant B-cell epitopes. Amino acid sequence homologies between viral peptides and immunodominant B-cell epitopes of transaldolase were identified using a computer-based algorithm. Direct assessment of molecular mimicry between transaldolase B-cell epitopes and related viral peptides is also shown. T-cell epitopes are mapped in a T-cell proliferation assay using multiple sclerosis patient and control donor cells. Autoantigen-specific T cells are identified by MHC-peptide tetramer staining using flow cytometry analysis.
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Upstate Medical University, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Brian
B
Niland
Andras
A
Perl
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001324:Autoantigens; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014153:Transaldolase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D014153:Transaldolase