Epitope mapping of Porphyromonas gingivalis heat-shock protein and human heat-shock protein in human atherosclerosis.
To identify T- and/or cross-reactive B-cell epitopes of P. gingivalis and human heat-shock protein (HSP)60 in atherosclerosis patients, we synthesized 104 overlapping synthetic peptides spanning whole molecules of P. gingivalis HSP60 and human HSP60, respectively. T-cell epitopes of P. gingivalis HSP were identified with the use of previously established P. gingivalis HSP-reactive T-cell lines. B-cell epitopes of P. gingivalis HSP60 and human HSP60 were identified by the use of patients' sera. Anti-P. gingivalis, anti-P. gingivalis HSP60, or anti-human HSP60 IgG antibody titers were higher in the atherosclerosis patients compared with the healthy subjects. Five immunodominant peptides of P. gingivalis HSP60, identified as T-cell epitopes, were also found to be B-cell epitopes. Moreover, 6 cross-reactive B-cell epitopes of human HSP60 were identified. It was concluded that P. gingivalis HSP60 might be involved in the immunoregulatory process of atherosclerosis, with common T- and/or B-cell epitope specificities and with cross-reactivity with human HSP60.
Choi
J-I
JI
Department of Periodontology and Research Institute for Oral Biotechnology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, 1-10, Ami-Dong, Seo-Ku, Pusan 602-739, Korea. jrapa@pusan.ac.kr
Chung
S-W
SW
Kang
H-S
HS
Rhim
B Y
BY
Park
Y-M
YM
Kim
U-S
US
Kim
S-J
SJ
D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D007074:Immunoglobulin G