Diseases and Induced Lesions of the Neuromuscular Endplate

Heilbronn, Edith

doi:10.1007/978-1-4757-0797-7_13

Cited by 1 publication

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“…Finally, since immunization to the TAChR causes EAMG, and the homologous human muscle nieotinic receptor is the target autoantigen in Myasthenia Gravis (rev. in [21,[23][24][25]), information gathered on the structure and location of T and B epitopes on this molecule may help understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases. We took advantage of this system to determine how frequently short sequence regions ofthe AChR which form CD4^ cell epitopes also contain a B epitope.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clustering of B and T Epitopes Within Short Sequence Regions of the Nieotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

et al. 1995

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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 Torpedo acetylcholine receptor (TAChR) causes experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Anti-TAChR CD4+ cells recognize epitopes within three sequence regions of the TAChR alpha 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 alpha, gamma and delta 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.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%