A structurally available encephalitogenic epitope of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein specifically induces a diversified pathogenic autoimmune response

J Immunol. 2004 Jul 1;173(1):600-6. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.1.600.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the CNS that involves immune reactivity against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), a type I transmembrane protein located at the outer surface of CNS myelin. The epitope MOG92-106 is a DR4-restricted Th cell epitope and a target for demyelinating autoantibodies. In this study, we show that the immune response elicited by immunization with this epitope is qualitatively different from immune responses induced by the well-defined epitopes myelin basic protein (MBP) 84-96 and proteolipid protein (PLP) 139-151. Mice with MOG92-106-, but not with MBP84-96- or PLP139-151-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis developed extensive B cell reactivity against secondary myelin Ags. These secondary Abs were directed against a set of encephalitogenic peptide Ags derived from MBP and PLP as well as a broad range of epitopes spanning the complete MBP sequence. The observed diversification of the B cell reactivity represents a simultaneous spread toward a broad range of antigenic epitopes and differs markedly from T cell epitope spreading that follows a sequential cascade. The Abs were of the isotypes IgG1 and IgG2b, indicating that endogenously recruited B cells receive help from activated T cells. In sharp contrast, B cell reactivity in MBP84-96- and PLP139-151-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis was directed against the disease-inducing Ag only. These data provide direct evidence that the nature of the endogenously acquired immune reactivity during organ-specific autoimmunity critically depends on the disease-inducing Ag. They further demonstrate that the epitope MOG92-106 has the specific capacity to induce a widespread autoimmune response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / etiology*
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte*
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Mice
  • Myelin Basic Protein / immunology
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein / immunology
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / immunology*
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Mog protein, mouse
  • Myelin Basic Protein
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
  • Peptide Fragments