Related Experiment Videos
Healthy monozygous twins do not recognize identical T cell epitopes on the myelin basic protein autoantigen
A Shanmugam1, C Copie-Bergman, G Hashim
1INSERM U 25, Faculté de Médicine Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
European Journal of Immunology
|October 1, 1994
Summary
Identical twins show distinct T cell responses to myelin basic protein (MBP), suggesting environmental factors influence autoimmune disease susceptibility. These differences complicate interpreting twin studies in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- The T cell response to myelin basic protein (MBP) is implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathophysiology.
- Genetic factors contribute to MS susceptibility, but the role of T cell repertoire shaping against self-antigens is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare T cell epitope recognition patterns towards MBP in healthy identical twins.
- To investigate the influence of genetic identity on self-antigen T cell responses.
Main Methods:
- Established MBP-specific T cell lines from eight sets of identical twins.
- Characterized the fine epitope specificity of T cell responses within each twin pair.
Main Results:
- Six of eight twin pairs displayed both shared and distinct T cell epitope recognition patterns for MBP.
- Two twin pairs showed no concordant epitope recognition, highlighting significant intra-pair variability.
Conclusions:
- Genetically identical individuals can exhibit substantial differences in T cell repertoires against self-antigens like MBP.
- These variations pose challenges for interpreting discordant findings in identical twin studies of autoimmune diseases.