Human thyroglobulin peptide p2340 induces autoimmune thyroiditis in HLA-DR3 transgenic mice.

Abstract

In a previous study we demonstrated that the human thyroglobulin (hTg) peptide p2340 (aa 2340-2359) can stimulate a T cell response and elicit experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in AKR/J (H-2(k)) mice. In the present study we examined whether p2340 can induce EAT in single HLA class II DR3 transgenic mice. This peptide was found to be immunogenic at the T cell level in DR3 mice, since it induced specific proliferative responses, as well as IL-2 and IFN-gamma secretion in secondary cultures of peptide-primed lymph node cells (LNC). Immunization of HLA-DR3 mice with p2340 in CFA elicited EAT (infiltration index of 1 to 2) in eight of nine mice. Peptide-primed LNC responded to intact hTg, whereas, hTg-primed LNC did not respond to p2340 in culture, suggesting that p2340 contains subdominant T cell epitope(s). P2340 was also found to be immunogenic at the B cell level, since strong p2340-specific IgG response was detected in all transgenic mice tested. Thus, we provide evidence for a pathogenic role of an hTg peptide in HLA-DR3 transgenic mice. Therefore, p2340 could be presented by DR3 molecule in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and participate in the development of the disease.

• Authors: Evangelos Karras, Huan Yang, Peggy Lymberi, Premkumar Christadoss
• Journal: Journal of autoimmunity (J Autoimmun) Vol. 24 Issue 4 Pg. 291-6 (Jun 2005) ISSN: 0896-8411 [Print] England
• PMID: 15927791 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
• HLA-DR3 Antigen
• Immunoglobulin G
• Peptides
• Thyroglobulin

Topics

• Animals
• Autoantibodies (immunology)
• B-Lymphocytes (immunology, pathology)
• Cells, Cultured
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte (immunology)
• HLA-DR3 Antigen (genetics, immunology)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (immunology)
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• Peptides (administration & dosage, immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology, pathology)
• Thyroglobulin (administration & dosage, immunology)
• Thyroid Gland (immunology, pathology)
• Thyroiditis, Autoimmune (chemically induced, immunology, pathology)