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Korup-Schulz SV, Lucke C, Moens U, Schmuck R, Ehlers B. Large T antigen variants of human polyomaviruses 9 and 12 and seroreactivity against their N terminus. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:704-714. [PMID: 28113048 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumour antigens (TAgs) of mammalian polyomaviruses (PyVs) are key proteins responsible for modulating the host cell cycle and are involved in virus replication as well as cell transformation and tumour formation. Here we aimed to identify mRNA sequences of known and novel TAgs encoded by the recently discovered human polyomaviruses 9 and 12 (HPyV9 and HPyV12) in cell culture. Synthetic viral genomes were transfected into human and animal cell lines. Gene expression occurred in most cell lines, as measured by quantitative PCR of cDNA copies of mRNA encoding major structural protein VP1. Large TAg- and small TAg-encoding mRNAs were detected in all cell lines, and additional spliced mRNAs were identified encoding TAg variants of 145 aa (HPyV9) and 84 aa (HPyV12). Using as antigens in ELISA the N-terminal 78 aa common to all respective TAg variants of HPyV9 and HPyV12, seroreactivity of 100 healthy blood donors, 54 patients with malignant diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and 32 patients with non-malignant diseases of the GIT was analysed. For comparison, the corresponding TAg N termini of BK PyV (BKPyV) and Merkel cell PyV (MCPyV) were included. Frequent reactivity against HPyV9, HPyV12 and BKPyV TAgs, but not MCPyV TAg, was observed in all tested groups. This indicates expression activity of the early region of three human PyVs in healthy and diseased subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah-Verena Korup-Schulz
- Division 12 'Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Viruses Affecting Immunocompromised Patients', Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Lucke
- Division 12 'Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Viruses Affecting Immunocompromised Patients', Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ugo Moens
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Rosa Schmuck
- General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, Experimental Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, Charité-Campus Virchow, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernhard Ehlers
- Division 12 'Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Viruses Affecting Immunocompromised Patients', Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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Buneva VN, Krasnorutskii MA, Nevinsky GA. Natural antibodies to nucleic acids. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2013; 78:127-143. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006297913020028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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Dalianis T, Hirsch HH. Human polyomaviruses in disease and cancer. Virology 2013; 437:63-72. [PMID: 23357733 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2012.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2012] [Revised: 12/24/2012] [Accepted: 12/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Today the human polyomavirus (HPyV) family consists of 10 members, BK virus (BKV) and JC virus (JCV) isolated 40 years ago and the more recently identified KI virus (KIPyV), WU virus (WUPyV), Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), HPyV6, HPyV7, trichodysplasia spinulosa virus (TSPyV), HPyV9 and MWPyV. Serological studies suggest that HPyVs subclinically infect the general population with rates ranging from 35% to 90%. However, significant disease is only observed in patients with impaired immune functions. Thus, BKV has been linked to hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and PyV-associated nephropathy (PyVAN) after kidney transplantation; JCV to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in HIV-AIDS, hematological diseases and in autoimmune diseases treated with certain lymphocyte-specific antibodies. KIPyV and WUPyV have been found in the respiratory tract, HPyV6 and 7 in the skin, and HPyV9 in serum and skin, and MWPyV in stools and skin, but so far none of these PyVs have been linked to any disease. TSPyV, on the other hand, was identified in trichodysplasia spinulosa, a rare skin disease characterized by virus-induced lytic as well as proliferative tumor-like features that is observed in immune-suppressed transplant patients. In contrast to all the other HPyVs so far, MCPyV is unique in its association with a cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, which is a rare skin cancer arising in the elderly and chronically immunosuppressed individuals. The discovery of the new HPyVs has revived interest in the Polyomaviridae and their association to human disease and cancer. In this review, we summarize knowledge about this expanding family of human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Dalianis
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Cancer Center Karolinska R8:01, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Fismen S, Thiyagarajan D, Seredkina N, Nielsen H, Jacobsen S, Elung-Jensen T, Kamper AL, Johansen SD, Mortensen ES, Rekvig OP. Impact of the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (Trap1) on renal DNaseI shutdown and on progression of murine and human lupus nephritis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2012; 182:688-700. [PMID: 23273922 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2012] [Revised: 10/23/2012] [Accepted: 11/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Recent findings show that transformation of mild glomerulonephritis into end-stage disease coincides with shutdown of renal DNaseI expression in (NZBxNZW)F1 mice. Down-regulation of DNaseI results in reduced chromatin fragmentation and deposition of extracellular chromatin fragments in glomerular basement membranes where they appear in complex with IgG antibodies. Here, we implicate the anti-apoptotic and survival protein, tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (Trap1) in the disease process, based on the observation that annotated transcripts from this gene overlap with transcripts from the DNaseI gene. Furthermore, we translate these observations to human lupus nephritis. In this study, mouse and human DNaseI and Trap1 mRNA levels were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and compared with protein expression levels and clinical data. Cellular localization was analyzed by immune electron microscopy, IHC, and in situ hybridization. Data indicate that silencing of DNaseI gene expression correlates inversely with expression of the Trap1 gene. Our observations suggest that the mouse model is relevant for the aspects of disease progression in human lupus nephritis. Acquired silencing of the renal DNaseI gene has been shown to be important for progression of disease in both the murine and human forms of lupus nephritis. Early mesangial nephritis initiates a cascade of inflammatory signals that lead to up-regulation of Trap1 and a consequent down-regulation of renal DNaseI by transcriptional interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silje Fismen
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.
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Rekvig OP, Mortensen ES. Immunity and autoimmunity to dsDNA and chromatin – the role of immunogenic DNA-binding proteins and nuclease deficiencies. Autoimmunity 2012; 45:588-92. [DOI: 10.3109/08916934.2012.719954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Mjelle JE, Rekvig OP, Van Der Vlag J, Fenton KA. Nephritogenic antibodies bind in glomeruli through interaction with exposed chromatin fragments and not with renal cross-reactive antigens. Autoimmunity 2011; 44:373-83. [DOI: 10.3109/08916934.2010.541170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Poole BD, Kivovich V, Gilbert L, Naides SJ. Parvovirus B19 nonstructural protein-induced damage of cellular DNA and resultant apoptosis. Int J Med Sci 2011; 8:88-96. [PMID: 21278893 PMCID: PMC3030141 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.8.88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2010] [Accepted: 01/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Parvovirus B19 is a widespread virus with diverse clinical presentations. The viral nonstructural protein, NS1, binds to and cleaves the viral genome, and induces apoptosis when transfected into nonpermissive cells, such as hepatocytes. We hypothesized that the cytotoxicity of NS1 in such cells results from chromosomal DNA damage caused by the DNA-nicking and DNA-attaching activities of NS1. Upon testing this hypothesis, we found that NS1 covalently binds to cellular DNA and is modified by PARP, an enzyme involved in repairing single-stranded DNA nicks. We furthermore discovered that the DNA nick repair pathway initiated by poly(ADPribose)polymerase and the DNA repair pathways initiated by ATM/ATR are necessary for efficient apoptosis resulting from NS1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Poole
- Huck Institute for Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine/Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA
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Lu MC, Yu CL, Yin WY, Tung CH, Huang KY, Liu SQ, Lai NS. Increased prevalence of polyomavirus BK viruria that correlates with thrombocytopenia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus on intensive immunosuppressive therapy. Autoimmunity 2009; 42:216-23. [PMID: 19301203 DOI: 10.1080/08916930802709125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of polyomavirus BK (BKV) reactivation is high in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on long-term immunosuppressants compared to normal population. However, only a few studies are available for the possible correlation of BKV reactivation and clinical manifestations in SLE patients. In the present study, we tried to correlate BKV viruria, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and medications in patients with SLE. The urine BKV viral DNA copies were detected from 95 patients with SLE and 32 healthy volunteers by real-time PCR. We found that the prevalence rate of BKV viruria in SLE patients was significantly higher than normal group (71.6% vs. 18.6%, p < 0.001) as well as the urine BKV DNA viral load (4.74 +/- 3.17 vs. 1.08 +/- 2.33 by log scale, p < 0.001). Interestingly, BKV viruria (+) SLE patients had more thrombocytopenic events than BKV viruria ( - ) group (32.4% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.008 after adjustment by age and sex). The patients with BKV viruria DNA copy number >3,200,000/ml exhibited more thrombocytopenia risk than BKV viruria <==3,200,000 copy number/ml or BKV viruria ( - ). The use of potent immunosuppressants may increase BKV viruria. In a refractory thrombocytoponeic case, the add-on of anti-BKV medication, leflunomide 20 mg/day rapidly decreased BKV viruria and recovered platelet counts. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that patients with SLE had higher prevalence rate of BKV reactivation that is correlated with thrombocytopenic episode. Intensive immunosuppressive therapy in SLE may increase the risk of BKV viruria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Chi Lu
- Buddhist Dalin Tzu-Chi General Hospital, Dalin Town, Chia-Yi, Taiwan, ROC
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Mortensen ES, Rekvig OP. Nephritogenic Potential of Anti-DNA Antibodies against Necrotic Nucleosomes. J Am Soc Nephrol 2009; 20:696-704. [DOI: 10.1681/asn.2008010112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
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Mjelle JE, Kalaaji M, Rekvig OP. Exposure of chromatin and not high affinity for dsDNA determines the nephritogenic impact of anti-dsDNA antibodies in (NZBxNZW)F1 mice. Autoimmunity 2009; 42:104-11. [PMID: 19005880 DOI: 10.1080/08916930802375729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that the nephritogenicity of antibodies to dsDNA and nucleosomes confers to binding of glomerular membrane-associated nucleosomes, and not to cross-reacting glomerular antigens. There is no known parameter that determines antibody pathogenicity aside from specificity for dsDNA/nucleosomes, and systemic lupus erytheomatosus (SLE) patients may have high titer anti-dsDNA antibodies irrespective whether they have lupus nephritis or not. One parameter may be antibody affinity, as theoretically only high affinity antibodies may bind in vivo in a stable way. This was analyzed in (NZB x NZW)F1 mice with full-blown lupus nephritis. These mice had serum antibodies to dsDNA, and IgG autoantibodies bound in situ in glomerular membrane-associated electron dense structures as determined by immune electron microscopy (IEM). Intrinsic affinity of purified circulating and glomerular IgG anti-dsDNA antibodies was determined by surface plasmon resonance. The results demonstrate that affinity of glomerular-bound anti-dsDNA antibodies was higher than for those in circulation. However, affinity of glomerular in situ-bound antibodies from different mice varied considerably, from K(D) in the range from 10(- 8) to 10(- 13). These results indicate that antibody affinity is not a decisive pathogenic factor, but rather that availability of chromatin fragments may be the factor that determines whether an anti-dsDNA antibody binds in glomeruli or not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne Erikke Mjelle
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
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Rekvig OP, Bendiksen S, Moens U. Immunity and autoimmunity induced by polyomaviruses: clinical, experimental and theoretical aspects. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2006; 577:117-47. [PMID: 16626032 DOI: 10.1007/0-387-32957-9_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In this chapter, polyomaviruses will be presented in an immunological context. Principal observations will be discussed to elucidate humoral and cellular immune responses to different species of the polyomaviruses and to individual viral structural and regulatory proteins. The role of immune responses towards the viruses or their proteins in context of protection against polyomavirus induced tumors will be described. One central aspect of this presentation is the ability of polyomaviruses, and particularly large T-antigen, to terminate immunological tolerance to nucleosomes, DNA and histones. Thus, in the present chapter we will focus on clinical, experimental and theoretical aspects of the immunity to polyomaviruses.
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12
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Kalaaji M, Sturfelt G, Mjelle JE, Nossent H, Rekvig OP. Critical comparative analyses of anti-alpha-actinin and glomerulus-bound antibodies in human and murine lupus nephritis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 54:914-26. [PMID: 16508974 DOI: 10.1002/art.21622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies are important in lupus nephritis, the question regarding which glomerular structures (alpha-actinin, nucleosomes, or others) are recognized by nephritogenic anti-dsDNA antibodies is still controversial. In this study, we determined which glomerular structures are recognized by monoclonal and in vivo-bound nephritogenic antibodies. METHODS Western blotting was used to analyze the ability of nephritogenic anti-dsDNA antibodies to recognize glomerular and nucleosomal structures. Sera from patients with lupus nephritis, sera from random antinuclear antibody-positive patients, and paired antibodies from sera and kidney eluates from nephritic (NZB x NZW)F(1) mice were analyzed for activity against proteins identified by monoclonal nephritogenic antibodies, and against alpha-actinin, dsDNA, nucleosomes, histone H1, heparan sulfate, DNase I, and type IV collagen. Immunoelectron microscopy was used to determine the glomerular localization of alpha-actinin and in vivo-bound autoantibodies in nephritic (NZB x NZW)F1 mouse kidneys. RESULTS Anti-alpha-actinin antibodies were observed in human and murine lupus nephritis sera and in sera from patients without systemic lupus erythematosus and were not detected in kidney eluates from nephritic mice. Antibodies to dsDNA and histone H1 were detected in all eluates. Western blot analyses revealed that nephritogenic anti-dsDNA antibodies recognized a 32-kd band, identified as histone H1. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated that nephritogenic monoclonal antibodies, and dominant antibodies eluted from nephritic kidneys, cross-reacted with dsDNA and H1. This cross-reactive anti-H1 specificity was largely absent in sera from those mice. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis of nephritic (NZB x NZW)F1 mouse kidneys revealed that antibodies eluted from kidneys, but not anti-alpha-actinin antibodies, bound to distinct nephritis-associated electron-dense structures linked to glomerular basement membranes. CONCLUSION Cross-reactive anti-dsDNA/anti-histone H1 antibodies, but not anti-alpha-actinin antibodies, are central among those deposited in nephritic glomeruli.
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Bendiksen S, Van Ghelue M, Winkler T, Moens U, Rekvig OP. Autoimmunity to DNA and nucleosomes in binary tetracycline-regulated polyomavirus T-Ag transgenic mice. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2005; 173:7630-40. [PMID: 15585891 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.12.7630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism(s) responsible for autoimmunity to DNA and nucleosomes in SLE is largely unknown. We have demonstrated that nucleosome-polyomavirus T-Ag complexes, formed in context of productive polyomavirus infection, activate dsDNA-specific B cells and nucleosome-specific CD4(+) T cells. To investigate whether de novo expressed T-Ag is able to terminate nucleosome-specific T cell tolerance and to maintain anti-dsDNA Ab production in nonautoimmune mice, we developed two binary transgenic mouse variants in which expression of SV40 large T-Ag is controlled by tetracycline, MUP tTA/T-Ag (tet-off), and CMV rtTA/T-Ag (tet-on) mice. Data demonstrate that MUP tTA/T-Ag mice, but not CMV rtTA/T-Ag mice, are tightly controlling T-Ag expression. In MUP tTA/T-Ag transgenic mice, postnatal T-Ag expression activated CD8(+) T cells but not DNA-specific B cells, while immunization with T-Ag and nucleosome-T-Ag-complexes before T-Ag expression resulted in elevated and remarkably stable titers of anti-T-Ag and anti-dsDNA Abs and activation of T-Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells. Immunization of nonexpressing MUP tTA/T-Ag mice resulted in transient anti-T-Ag and anti-dsDNA Abs. This system reveals that a de novo expressed DNA-binding quasi-autoantigen maintain anti-dsDNA Abs and CD4(+) T cell activation once initiated by immunization, demonstrating direct impact of a single in vivo expressed molecule on sustained autoimmunity to DNA and nucleosomes.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Antinuclear/biosynthesis
- Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis
- Antigen Presentation/genetics
- Antigens, Viral, Tumor/administration & dosage
- Antigens, Viral, Tumor/biosynthesis
- Antigens, Viral, Tumor/genetics
- Antigens, Viral, Tumor/physiology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Cells, Cultured
- Cytomegalovirus Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cytomegalovirus Vaccines/immunology
- DNA, Viral/immunology
- Lymphocyte Activation/genetics
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Transgenic
- Nucleosomes/immunology
- Polyomavirus/genetics
- Polyomavirus/immunology
- Simian virus 40/immunology
- Tetracycline/administration & dosage
- Tetracycline/pharmacology
- Trans-Activators/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Signy Bendiksen
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
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Isaguliants MG, Iakimtchouk K, Petrakova NV, Yermalovich MA, Zuber AK, Kashuba VI, Belikov SV, Andersson S, Kochetkov SN, Klinman DM, Wahren B. Gene immunization may induce secondary antibodies reacting with DNA. Vaccine 2004; 22:1576-85. [PMID: 15063584 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2003.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2002] [Revised: 05/12/2003] [Accepted: 09/18/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The fear of autoimmunity in DNA-vaccine recipients initiated screening for anti-DNA antibodies in rabbits immunized with genes of viral nucleic acid-binding and adapter proteins. Of 11 DNA/protein-immunized rabbits, seven had developed secondary antibodies against DNA detected at weeks 11-50 from the on-start of immunization. Two rabbits immunized with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase gene developed transient anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies of high avidity that recognized DNA in the kinetoplasts of Crithidia luciliae. Others developed antibodies reacting with DNA in ELISA and targeting nuclear-associated antigens in the immunofluoresence test. No anti-DNA antibodies were detected at these time-points in any of the controls (P=0.036). Induction of anti-DNA antibodies by epitope spreading from protein domains involved in nucleic acid-binding versus maturation of anti-protein antibodies to dual protein-DNA specificity is discussed. (126 words).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Isaguliants
- Swedish Istitute for Ifectious Disease Control and Microbiology and Tumour Biology Center, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden.
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Abstract
This session had as its central theme the analysis of peptide epitopes and their relationship with lupus pathogenesis. New information on the role of peptides opens up the possibility of treatments based on inducing immunological tolerance although care needs to be taken since it is difficult to predict flare or remission of disease after exposure to critical antigenic peptides. The provenance of these peptides may be self or foreign antigens, or autoantibody idiotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Ehrenstein
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Rheumatology, The Middlesex Hospital, University College London, London, UK
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Van Ghelue M, Moens U, Bendiksen S, Rekvig OP. Autoimmunity to nucleosomes related to viral infection: a focus on hapten-carrier complex formation. J Autoimmun 2003; 20:171-82. [PMID: 12657530 DOI: 10.1016/s0896-8411(02)00110-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder with unknown aetiology. The major hallmark of this disease is the presence of antibodies against nuclear components, including double-stranded (ds)DNA and histones. The disease affects different organs, particularly the skin, kidneys and the nervous system. Although the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiological processes in SLE remain unknown, several inherent and environmental factors seem to be involved in the ethiopathogenesis of this disorder. Viruses may be one of the factors that induce the production of autoreactive antibodies although the involved mechanisms are still incompletely understood. One proposed mechanism for virus-induced production of autoantibodies is molecular mimicry. Another mechanism derives from studies with the human polyomavirus BK. In these studies, in vivo binding of the polyomaviruses large T-antigen to chromatin of infected cells may render chromatin immunogenic. The large T-antigen-chromatin complex may thus function as a hapten-carrier model with subsequent production of anti-chromatin antibodies, including anti-dsDNA and anti-histones antibodies. This review focuses on the recent findings suggesting that this model may be applicable for other human viruses associated with SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijke Van Ghelue
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway.
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Andreassen K, Bendiksen S, Kjeldsen E, Van Ghelue M, Moens U, Arnesen E, Rekvig OP. T cell autoimmunity to histones and nucleosomes is a latent property of the normal immune system. ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM 2002; 46:1270-81. [PMID: 12115233 DOI: 10.1002/art.10254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Investigators in this study undertook to determine whether in vitro antigen-responsive immune (polyomavirus T antigen [T-ag]- specific) and autoimmune (histone-specific) T cells from normal individuals share structural and genetic characteristics with those from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS Histone-specific T cells were generated by stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with nucleosome-T-ag complexes and were subsequently maintained by pure histones. T-ag-specific T cell clones were initiated and maintained by T-ag. The frequencies of circulating histone- and T-ag-specific T cells were determined in healthy individuals and in SLE patients by limiting dilution of PBMCs. T cell receptor (TCR) gene usage and variable-region structures were determined by complementary DNA sequencing. These sequences were compared between T-ag- and histone-specific T cells and between normal individuals and SLE patients for each specificity. RESULTS Individual in vitro-expanded histone- and T-ag-specific T cells from normal individuals displayed identical TCR V(alpha) and/or V(beta) chain third complementarity-determining region (CDR3) sequences, indicating that they were clonally expanded in vivo. The frequencies of in vitro antigen-responsive T-ag- or histone-specific T cells from normal individuals were similar to those from SLE patients. Although heterogeneous for variable-region structure and gene usage, histone-specific T cells from healthy individuals and SLE patients selected aspartic and/or glutamic acids at positions 99 and/or 100 of the V(beta) CDR3 sequence. CONCLUSION Autoimmune T cells from healthy individuals can be activated by nucleosome- T-ag complexes and maintained by histones in vitro. Such T cells possessed TCR structures similar to those from SLE patients, demonstrating that T cell autoimmunity to nucleosomes may be a latent property of the normal immune system.
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Moens U, Mathiesen I, Ghelue MV, Rekvig OP. Green fluorescent protein modified to bind DNA initiates production of anti-DNA antibodies when expressed in vivo. Mol Immunol 2002; 38:505-14. [PMID: 11750652 DOI: 10.1016/s0161-5890(01)00086-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Studies have clearly demonstrated that DNA itself is not or scarcely immunogenic in experimental animals. We have previously demonstrated that linking human polyomavirus large T-antigen to DNA rendered DNA immunogenic irrespective of the source or the structure of DNA. As an alternative to this artificial system, in vivo expression of the DNA binding protein large T-antigen of human polyomaviruses also resulted in the production of anti-DNA antibodies. This observation demonstrates that the large T-antigen concept is operational in vivo and supports the idea that complex formation between a non-self DNA-binding protein and DNA renders DNA immunogenic in analogy to a hapten-carrier model. To further investigate this model, the DNA binding domain (DBD) of a self-protein (glucocorticoid receptor) was linked to a non-DNA binding non-self protein, the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Immunization of mice with an expression plasmid for this fusion protein resulted in the production of anti-DNA antibodies, while mice inoculated with either a plasmid encoding the GFP or a plasmid encoding the DBD of the glucocorticoid receptor failed to produce anti-DNA antibodies. These results demonstrate that DNA may become immunogenic through in vivo association with any non-self DNA binding protein. Considering these data in context of results obtained with the polyomavirus large T-antigen, one may conclude that viral DNA-binding proteins may affect the regulation of immune tolerance to DNA and nucleosomes in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Moens
- Department of Biochemistry, Section for Molecular Genetics, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway
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Bredholt G, Rekvig OP, Andreassen K, Moens U, Marion TN. Differences in the reactivity of CD4+ T-cell lines generated against free versus nucleosome-bound SV40 large T antigen. Scand J Immunol 2001; 53:372-80. [PMID: 11285117 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3083.2001.00873.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Previous results have revealed a strong correlation between polyomavirus BK reactivation and disease activity and antinuclear auto-antibody production in the human autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus. BK virus establishes a latent infection in most humans, and reactivation requires the production of the DNA-binding large T antigen. Experimentally induced expression of the polyomavirus SV40 large T antigen in mice induces both an immune response to large T antigen and autoimmune response to nuclear antigens and antinuclear antibody production. Previous results have indicated that human T-antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell lines are stimulated equally by free, soluble and nucleosome-bound T antigen. This study was designed to determine how antigen processing of nucleosomes containing bound SV40 large T antigen may affect the specificity and response characteristics of experimentally induced T-antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. The results indicated that CD4+ T-cell lines generated from mice immunized with soluble, free T antigen responded very poorly in response to stimulation with T antigen bound to nucleosomes. CD4+ T-cell lines generated from mice immunized with nucleosomes that had bound T antigen in situ responded to both free and nucleosome-bound T antigen. The T-antigen-specific, CD4+ memory T cells induced by latent polyomavirus infections in humans may be uniquely suited to initiate autoimmunity to nuclear antigens upon virus reactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bredholt
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
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Ulvestad E, Kanestrøm A, Tengnér P, Gjerde S, Sundal J, Haga HJ. Anti-cardiolipin autoantibodies and pulmonary embolism. A case for a common cause. Scand J Rheumatol 2001; 29:330-3. [PMID: 11093603 DOI: 10.1080/030097400447750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
A patient with primary Sjögren's syndrome developed pulmonary embolism following infection with influenza A virus. IgM anti-cardiolipin autoantibodies (aCL) evolved two weeks after hospitalisation, synchronously with antibodies against influenza A. IgG aCL developed three weeks after hospitalization, peaked during the recovery period, and gradually declined to undetectable levels 12 months after admission. Antibodies against beta2 glycoprotein I were not detected. Our results assign a high likelihood to the hypothesis that influenza A virus caused the patient's thromboembolic disease as well as development of aCL. aCL may have contributed to tissue pathology by forming immune-complexes with cardiolipin and rheumatoid factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ulvestad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Gade Institute, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
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Bendiksen S, Rekvig OP, Van Ghelue M, Moens U. VP1 DNA sequences of JC and BK viruses detected in urine of systemic lupus erythematosus patients reveal no differences from strains expressed in normal individuals. J Gen Virol 2000; 81:2625-2633. [PMID: 11038373 DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-81-11-2625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitous human polyomaviruses BK (BKV) and JC (JCV) persist with no adverse effects in immunocompetent individuals. Virus-induced pathogenesis has been linked to virus reactivation during impaired immune conditions. Previous studies have shown a significant difference between the VP1 DNA sequences of JCV obtained from control urine samples and those in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy brain samples. This difference could not be detected when comparing normal control urinary JCV DNA with DNA sequences from chronic progressive multiple sclerosis patients. Since BKV and JCV are readily activated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, the presence of specific strains, related to VP1 DNA sequences, was investigated in these patients. VP1 DNA sequences in 100 urine samples from 21 SLE patients and 75 urine samples from 75 healthy pregnant women were analysed and compared to previously reported sequences. The results show that the VP1 sequence profiles of JCV and BKV excreted by SLE patients do not differ significantly from those excreted by immunocompetent individuals. The European JCV subtypes 1A or 1B were represented among all JCV-positive urine specimens, while BKV VP1 sequences showed complete, or almost complete, identity with the MM or JL strains. Different urine samples from the same patient collected over a 1 year period were predominantly stable. BKV VP1 DNA in urine specimens from healthy pregnant women was only detected during the third trimester of their pregnancy. These results argue against SLE-specific JCV and BKV strains and suggest reactivation of the viruses rather than recurrent re-infections of patients with SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signy Bendiksen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway1
| | - Ole Petter Rekvig
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway1
| | - Marijke Van Ghelue
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway1
| | - Ugo Moens
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway1
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Denman
- Northwick Park and St Mark's NHS Trust, Harrow, Middlesex, UK
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