Autoimmune spread to myelin is associated with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by a neuronal protein, beta-synuclein.
Accumulating evidence suggests that autoimmunity against neuronal proteins is important for MS pathogenesis. We have characterized T- and B-cell responses associated with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced in Lewis rats with recombinant beta-Synuclein (betaSync), a neuronal component. The encephalitogenic betaSync-specific T cells recognize a single immunodominant region with an epitope delineated at amino acids 97-105; B-cell specificity is more widespread, albeit directed mostly to the C-terminus of betaSync. Most interestingly, betaSync-induced autoimmune T- and B-cell responses spread not only to other neuronal antigens but also to myelin encephalitogens, raising the possibility that anti-neuronal immune attacks could also result in demyelination.
Kela-Madar
Neta
N
Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
de Rosbo
Nicole Kerlero
NK
Ronen
Ayal
A
Mor
Felix
F
Ben-Nun
Avraham
A
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D051846:beta-Synuclein / Q000502:physiology* / Q000633:toxicity
D001323:Autoantibodies; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C497607:SNCB protein, human; C497608:Sncb protein, mouse; D051846:beta-Synuclein