Autoantibodies in vitiligo patients recognize multiple domains of the melanin-concentrating hormone receptor.
|
| Abstract |
Previously, we reported the identification of autoantibodies against the melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 in patients with vitiligo. In this study, the B cell epitopes on melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 that are recognized by these autoantibodies have been identified. Deletion derivatives of melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 complementary DNA were constructed and then translated in vitro with the concomitant incorporation of [35S]-methionine into the protein products. The [35S]-labeled melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 derivatives were subsequently used in radio-binding assays to investigate the reactivity of sera from nine vitiligo patients that were known to contain antibodies to the receptor. Analysis of the results obtained in the radio-binding assays suggested the existence of multiple antibody binding sites on melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1, including regions between amino acids 1 to 138 and 139 to 298. Several patients exhibited autoantibodies to more than one melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 epitope indicating a heterogeneous humoral response to the receptor. Computer prediction of the potential B cell epitopes on melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 revealed that the epitope domains identified overlapped, at least in part, with regions predicted to be highly antigenic.
|
|---|---|
| Authors | Raju V S R K Gottumukkala, Elizabeth A Waterman, Laura M Herd, David J Gawkrodger, Philip F Watson, Anthony P Weetman, E Helen Kemp |
| Journal | The Journal of investigative dermatology (J Invest Dermatol) Vol. 121 Issue 4 Pg. 765-70 (Oct 2003) ISSN: 0022-202X [Print] United States |
| PMID | 14632194 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't) |
| Chemical References |
|
| Topics |
|
Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!