Enolase and Arrestin are Novel Nonmyelin Autoantigens in Multiple
Sclerosis.
Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Introduction: Although myelin autoimmunity is known to be a
major factor in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), the role of
nonmyelin antigens is less clear. Given the complexity of this disease, it is
possible that autoimmunity against nonmyelin antigens also has a pathogenic
role. Autoantibodies against enolase and arrestin have previously been reported
in MS patients. The T-cell response to these antigens, however, has not been
established.
Methods: Thirty-five patients with MS were recruited, along with
thirty-five healthy controls. T-cell proliferative responses against
non-neuronal enolase, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), retinal arrestin,
beta-arrestin, and myelin basic protein were determined. Results: MS patients
had a greater prevalence of positive T-cell proliferative responses to NSE,
retinal arrestin, and beta-arrestin than healthy controls (p<0.0001). The
proliferative response against NSE, retinal arrestin, and beta-arrestin
correlated with the response against myelin basic protein (p</=0.004).
Furthermore, the proliferative response against retinal arrestin was correlated
to beta-arrestin (p<0.0001), whereas there was no such correlation between
non-neuronal enolase and NSE (p = 0.23).
Discussion: There is accumulating
evidence to suggest that the pathogenesis of MS involves more than just myelin
autoimmunity/destruction. Autoimmunity against nonmyelin antigens may be a
component of this myriad of immunopathological events. NSE, retinal arrestin,
and beta-arrestin are novel nonmyelin autoantigens that deserve further
investigation in this respect. Autoimmunity against these antigens may be linked
to neurodegeneration, defective remyelination, and predisposition to uveitis in
multiple sclerosis. Further investigation of the role of these antigens in MS is
warranted.
PMID: 17436063 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17436063&itool=pubmed_DocSum
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