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Mouse autoantibodies bind to a phospholipase-C-sensitive structure on red blood cells
1School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park.
International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Researchers found that phosphatidylcholine is a key part of the mouse red blood cell (RBC) autoantigen. This autoantigen is exposed after treating RBCs with bromelain (Brom), and phospholipase C treatment reduces autoantibody production.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Autoantibodies against red blood cells (RBCs) can be generated in vitro.
- Proteolytic enzymes like bromelain (Brom) can modify RBCs to expose autoantigens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the specific component of mouse RBCs that acts as an autoantigen after bromelain treatment.
- To investigate the role of phospholipids in RBC autoantigenicity.
Main Methods:
- Culturing mouse peritoneal cells in vitro.
- Modifying mouse RBCs with bromelain (Brom).
- Assessing plaque-forming cell numbers against modified RBCs using haemolytic assays.
- Treating modified RBCs with various enzymes, including phospholipase C, neuraminidase, and proteases.
Main Results:
- High numbers of autoantibody-secreting cells against bromelain-treated mouse RBCs were detected.
- Pretreatment of bromelain-treated RBCs with phospholipase C significantly reduced plaque-forming cell numbers.
- Other enzyme treatments (Brom, neuraminidase, beta-chymotrypsin, trypsin, papain) did not affect plaque-forming cell numbers.
Conclusions:
- Phosphatidylcholine is an integral part of the mouse RBC autoantigen exposed by bromelain treatment.
- Phospholipase C effectively inhibits autoantibody recognition of this specific RBC autoantigen.