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Antigenic similarities between brain components and bacteria causing meningitis. Implications for vaccine development

J Finne, M Leinonen, P H Mäkelä

Lancet (London, England)

|August 13, 1983

Summary

Human and rat brain glycopeptides with polysialic acid cross-react with antibodies to meningococcus group B. This cross-reactivity may hinder vaccine development and impact meningitis pathogenesis.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Immunology
Microbiology

Background:

Polysialic acid (PSA) is a component of bacterial capsules, including Neisseria meningitidis group B and Escherichia coli K1.
PSA plays a role in bacterial pathogenesis and immune evasion.
The human and rat brain contain endogenous PSA-containing molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the immunological cross-reactivity between brain-derived PSA and bacterial PSA.
To explore the implications of this cross-reactivity for vaccine development and meningitis pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

Isolation of glycopeptides containing polysialic acid units from human and rat brain.
Testing the reactivity of these glycopeptides with antibodies against meningococcal capsules.

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Inhibition assays using capsular polysaccharides from different bacterial strains.

Main Results:

Polysialosyl glycopeptides from the brain specifically bound to antibodies against meningococcus group B.
This binding was inhibited by capsular polysaccharides from meningococcus group B and Escherichia coli K1.
Binding was not inhibited by polysaccharides from meningococcus groups A or C.

Conclusions:

A cross-reactive antigen exists between bacterial PSA (meningococcus B, E. coli K1) and brain components.
This cross-reactivity may explain the challenges in developing effective vaccines against these bacteria.
Immunological tolerance to this cross-reactive antigen could be a factor in meningitis pathogenesis.
Caution is advised for vaccine development and antibody-based immunotherapy due to this cross-reactivity.