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Autoreactive T cells specific for a natural intracellular hapten: an example from patients with acute myocarditis and possible consequences for other inflammatory diseases
Arthritis Res Ther volume 6, Article number: 38 (2004)
Background
All organisms contain naturally occurring haptens in the form of enzyme cofactors bound covalently to apoproteins. One example is flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Autoantibodies recognizing flavoproteins, with specificity for flavin or flavin-peptide were described in patients with myocarditis or other muscular diseases.
Objective
We wanted to test the hypothesis that FAD-peptide reactive T cells exist in patients with acute myocarditis.
Methods
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were tested in vitro with a purified FAD-peptide (from a trypsin digested, affinity purified flavoprotein) or a synthetic peptide with the same amino acid sequence. Proliferation was measured by 3H-TdR incorporation, and the secretion of IFN-γ by ELISA.
Results
PBMNC from four patients with acute myocarditis showed positive responses to the FAD-peptide, in contrast to control individuals. The synthetic FAD-free peptide did not induce a response.
Conclusions
The results are consistent with the hypothesis that during the inflammation of the heart cardiomyocytes liberate normally cryptic mitochondrial FAD-peptides, which induce a T cell response. Similar mechanisms could be envisaged in inflammatory diseases of other compartments (e.g. the joints in rheumatic diseases [1]).
References
- 1.
Cicek G, Schiltz E, Staiger J, Neumann F-J, Melchers I, Brandsch R: Specific stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with acute myocarditis by peptide-bound flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), a naturally accurring autologous hapten. Clin Exp Immunol. 2003, 132: 366-370. 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2003.02130.x.
Acknowledgement
Supported by grants of the DFG.
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Melchers, I., Cicek, G., Schiltz, E. et al. Autoreactive T cells specific for a natural intracellular hapten: an example from patients with acute myocarditis and possible consequences for other inflammatory diseases. Arthritis Res Ther 6, 38 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1186/ar1080
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Keywords
- Peptide
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Trypsin
- Adenine
- Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell
