Cross-reaction between tyrosinase peptides and cytomegalovirus antigen by T cells from patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether T lymphocytes of patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease cross-react with peptides of melanocytes and with exogenous antigens.


METHODS
Cross-reactivity with melanocyte peptides, tyrosinase (tyrosinase(450-462): SYLQDSDPDSFQD) and the mimic virus peptide, i.e., cytomegalovirus envelope glycoprotein H (CMV-egH(290-302): SYLKDSDFLDAAL) was examined by a lymphocyte proliferation assay or cytokine production. The seroprevalence of various viruses was examined by a complement fixation test. To examine if the virus infections in VKH patients were latent, we measured genomic DNA of the virus using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


RESULTS
Some of the T cells established from VKH recognized melanocyte peptides including the tyrosinase peptide as well as the CMV-egH(290-302) peptide, which had a high amino acid homology to the tyrosinase peptide. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) peptide-specific T cells showed a significant proliferation not only to CMV-egH(290-302) but also to tyrosinase(450-462). The seroprevalence of CMV was significantly higher in VKH patients. In addition, all tested samples of VKH patients were negative for CMV-DNA.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that CMV infection may stimulate the production of T cells that cross-react with tyrosinase by a mechanism of molecular mimicry. These events may be responsible for the onset of VKH disease.
Sugita
Sunao
S
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan. sunaoph@tmd.ac.jp
Takase
Hiroshi
H
Kawaguchi
Tatsushi
T
Taguchi
Chikako
C
Mochizuki
Manabu
M
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D003429:Cross Reactions; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016679:Genome, Viral; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000276:immunology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014607:Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D004279:DNA, Viral; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C071440:glycoprotein H, Cytomegalovirus; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase