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HLA-B27-derived peptides as autoantigens for T lymphocytes in ankylosing spondylitis
E Märker-Hermann1, K H Meyer zum Büschenfelde, G Wildner
1Johannes-Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
Objective:
To study whether peptides derived from the HLA-B27 molecule sequence can stimulate peripheral blood T lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with HLA-B27-associated spondylarthropathies.
Methods:
PBL from 55 HLA-B27+ patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 28 HLA-B27+ patients with other spondylarthropathies, 7 rheumatoid arthritis patients, and 30 HLA-B27+ and 22 HLA-B27- healthy controls were tested in lymphocyte proliferation assays with 4 synthetic peptides derived from the HLA-B*2705 molecule.
Results:
A 13-mer peptide (B27PA) induced significant proliferative responses in 17 of the 55 AS patients (stimulation index [SI] 2.5-17.5), as well as in 3 of the HLA-B27+ healthy controls (SI 2.5-9.8). Another 13-mer peptide (B27PC) induced PBL proliferation (SI 2.7-5.5) in 10 AS patients and in some donors of the control groups. In B27PA-specific T cell lines, an expansion of cells positive for the gamma/delta T cell receptor could be demonstrated.
Conclusion:
These results indicate that HLA-B27-derived peptides can be recognized as autoantigens by PBL of HLA-B27+ AS patients and B27+ healthy controls. Recent infections preceding the manifestation of AS may be involved in this process of anti-self major histocompatibility complex reactivity.