Tubulin is a neuronal target of autoantibodies in Sydenham's chorea

CA Kirvan, CJ Cox, SE Swedo… - The Journal of …, 2007 - journals.aai.org
CA Kirvan, CJ Cox, SE Swedo, MW Cunningham
The Journal of Immunology, 2007journals.aai.org
Sydenham's chorea is a CNS disorder and sequela of group A streptococcal infection where
deposition of Abs in brain may result in movement and neuropsychiatric abnormalities. We
studied human mAbs 24.3. 1, 31.1. 1, and 37.2. 1 derived from chorea and selected for cross-
reactivity with group A streptococci and brain Ags. Our novel findings reveal that
Sydenham's chorea mAbs target a 55-kDa brain protein with an N-terminal amino acid
sequence of MREIVHLQ corresponding to β-tubulin. Chorea mAb specificity for purified …
Abstract
Sydenham’s chorea is a CNS disorder and sequela of group A streptococcal infection where deposition of Abs in brain may result in movement and neuropsychiatric abnormalities. We studied human mAbs 24.3. 1, 31.1. 1, and 37.2. 1 derived from chorea and selected for cross-reactivity with group A streptococci and brain Ags. Our novel findings reveal that Sydenham’s chorea mAbs target a 55-kDa brain protein with an N-terminal amino acid sequence of MREIVHLQ corresponding to β-tubulin. Chorea mAb specificity for purified brain tubulin was confirmed in ELISA and Western immunoblot, and significant levels of anti-tubulin IgG were found in acute chorea sera and cerebrospinal fluid. Lysoganglioside G M1 inhibited binding of chorea mAbs to tubulin and mAb reactivity with human caudate and putamen brain sections was blocked by anti-tubulin mAb. The chorea mAbs labeled both intra-and extracellular Ags of a neuronal cell line providing evidence suggesting mimicry between intracellular brain protein tubulin and extracellular lysoganglioside. In addition, chorea mAb 24.3. 1 and acute chorea sera induced calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activity in human neuronal cells. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the chorea mAb V H genes revealed that mAb 24.3. 1 V H gene was encoded by the V H 1 germline gene family which encodes other anti-ganglioside V H genes associated with motor neuropathies. mAb recognition of tubulin and the neuronal cell surface with initiation of cell signaling and dopamine release supports an emerging theme in autoimmunity whereby cross-reactive or polyreactive autoantibodies against intracellular Ags recognize cell surface epitopes potentially leading to disease.
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