We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Clustering of B and T Epitopes Within Short Sequence Regions of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor.
- Authors
Bellone, M.; Karachunski, P. I.; Ostlie, N.; Lei, S.; Conti-Fine, B. M.
- Abstract
The epitope repertoire of B cells, due to their selective ability to process their specific antigen and the potential bias imposed on the resulting peptides by the surface immunoglobulins bound to the antigen, may influence the T-helper repertoire. Immunization of C57B1/6 mice with <em>Torpedo</em> acetylcholine receptor (TAChR) causes experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Anti-TAChR CD4+ cells recognize epitopes within three sequence regions of the TAChR α subunit ('dominant epitopes'). Immunization of mice with denatured or synthetic TAChR antigens sensitizes CD4+ cells to other TAChR sequence regions ('cryptic epitopes'). We investigated here whether clustering of B and T epitopes within the same short sequence segments occurs during the anti-TAChR response, as previously described for the response to hexogenous antigens unrelated to homologous self proteins. Twelve 19-20 residue synthetic sequences of the TAChR α, γ and δ subunits, containing dominant or cryptic CD4+ epitopes for C57B1/6 mice, were tested for ability to induce anti-peptide antibody production. C57B1/6 mice were immunized with the individual peptides. Ten peptides stimulated antibody production. Therefore >80% of these short TAChR sequences also contain B epitopes. Therefore also in the anti-TAChR response leading to EAMG T and B cell epitopes frequently reside within the same short sequence segment.
- Subjects
B cells; IMMUNOGLOBULINS; ANTIGENS; IMMUNIZATION; PEPTIDES; LABORATORY mice
- Publication
Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, 1995, Vol 41, Issue 2, p135
- ISSN
0300-9475
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-3083.1995.tb03545.x