T‐Cell Epitope Mapping of the Borrelia garinii Outer Surface Protein A in Lyme Neuroborreliosis

Abstract

We studied the T‐cell reactivity to overlapping peptides of B. garinii OspA, in order to locate possible immunodominant T‐cell epitopes in neuroborreliosis. Cells from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood from 39 patients with neuroborreliosis and 31 controls were stimulated with 31 overlapping peptides, and interferon‐γ secreting cells were detected by ELISPOT. The peptides OspA17–36, OspA49–68, OspA105–124, OspA137–156, OspA193–212 and OspA233–252 showed the highest frequency of positive responses, being positive in CSF from 38% to 50% of patients with neuroborreliosis. These peptides also elicited higher responses in CSF compared with controls (P = 0.004). CSF cells more often showed positive responses to these peptides than blood cells (P = 0.001), in line with a compartmentalization to the central nervous system. Thus, a set of potential T‐cell epitopes were identified in CSF cells from patients with neuroborreliosis. Further studies may reveal whether these epitopes can be used diagnostically and studies involving HLA interactions may show their possible pathogenetic importance.

Doxycycline-mediated effects on persistent symptoms and systemic cytokine responses post-neuroborreliosis: a randomized, prospective, cross-over study

“…To determine the OF-specific secretion, the number of spots in the unstimulated wells was subtracted from the number in the OF-stimulated wells. The OF-specific secretion of IFN-γ and IL-4 was positive for values >15 spots/100 000 cells and >10 spots/100 000 cells, respectively, according to previous results [41]. …”

Can ELISPOT Be Applied to A Clinical Setting as A Diagnostic Utility for Neuroborreliosis?

“…This decision was based on previous experience showing the ability of this antigen to discriminate LNB from controls [ 30 ], induce augmented intrathecal IFN- γ secretion [ 48 ], demonstrate compartmentalization of IFN-γ response [ 35 ] and induce a strong CSF response in adults [ 49 ] and in children [ 43 ]. We also identified a set of potential T cell epitopes from OspA (which is one of the major antigens in OF), although their diagnostic relevance has not been established [ 50 ]. Thus, taken together, the chosen antigen is a logical choice in LNB, although the possibility that other antigens or a combination of antigens could have led to different results cannot be excluded.…”

Expression of Genes Associated with H Factor in Fibroblasts Infected with Borrelia Spirochaetes

“…This mechanism facilitates distribution of spirochaetes thorough the host organism and disease progress. At the same time, the immunological system of the host mistakenly attacks its own cells because of, for example, high similarity between the OspA spirochaete cells and the human lymphocyte antigen (hLFA), or between flagellin and axons' elements [5,6,15,17,20]. Diversity of disease symptoms (skin, joint, systemic and neurological lesions), their similarity to the other diseases [9][10][11] and their intensiveness hinder diagnosing and treating borreliosis (spirochaetal disease) in many cases.…”

“…The factor H has a specificity towards C3b molecules of the complement system, present in the serum or bound to the surface of cells. It has three sites binding protein C3b (SCR1-4 and SCR12-14, SCR19-20) and three heparin binding sites (SCR7, 13,[19][20]. It acts as a cofactor of factor I, catalyzing the decomposition of C3b, thereby preventing the formation of convertases and accelerates their decomposition.…”