Lack of pathogenicity of immunodominant T and B cell determinants of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor epsilon-chain.

Abstract

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is the autoantigen in seropositive myasthenia gravis (MG) that is a T cell-dependent B cell-mediated autoimmune disorder. We tested the immunogenicity and myasthenogenicity of the extracellular and first transmembrane domain of the epsilon-chain(1-221) of the nAChR in inbred and MHC congenic rat strains. Immunodominant T and B cell determinants did not induce experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG), although immunization resulted in strong Th1 and B cell responses, which could be mapped with overlapping peptides of the nAChR epsilon-subunit in eight different rat strains. Our data underscores the concept that immunodominant autoantigen-specific T and B cell responses can lack pathogenicity in autoimmune disease and might be of relevance for the physiological integrity of the organism.

• Authors: Susanne Gaertner, Katrien L de Graaf, Wolfgang Wienhold, Karl-Heinz Wiesmüller, Arthur Melms, Robert Weissert
• Journal: Journal of neuroimmunology (J Neuroimmunol) Vol. 152 Issue 1-2 Pg. 44-56 (Jul 2004) ISSN: 0165-5728 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 15223236 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Autoantigens
• Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
• Peptides
• Receptors, Nicotinic

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Animals, Congenic
• Autoantigens (immunology)
• B-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte (immunology)
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte (immunology)
• Humans
• Male
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental (immunology)
• Peptides (immunology)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Lew
• Receptors, Nicotinic (immunology)
• Th1 Cells (immunology)