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Unmasking of an unusual myelin basic protein epitope during the process of myelin degeneration in humans: a potential mechanism for the generation of autoantigens.

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  • 1. Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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    • Matsuo A 1
    (1 author)

The American Journal of Pathology, 01 Apr 1997, 150(4):1253-1266
PMID: 9094982 PMCID: PMC1858181

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Abstract 

A rabbit antiserum (anti-EP), induced against a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 68 to 86 of guinea pig myelin basic protein, powerfully immunostained abnormal-appearing oligodendrocytic processes and cell bodies in demyelinating areas associated with multiple sclerosis plaques. However, it failed to recognize any structures in normal human, rat, or guinea pig brain. The antiserum recognized the synthetic peptide QDENPVV, which corresponds to human myelin basic protein residues 82 to 88. Immunoabsorption with this peptide eliminated immunohistochemical staining. By contrast, several commercial antibodies recognizing nearby sequences of human myelin basic protein intensely stained all myelinated structures in both normal and multiple sclerosis tissue. The unusual epitope recognized by anti-EP appears to be accessible only in areas of myelin degeneration. If insults occur that repeatedly expose a region of MBP normally sheltered from immunosurveillance, a self-sustaining immune reaction might result.

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Am J Pathol. 1997 Apr; 150(4): 1253–1266.
PMCID: PMC1858181
PMID: 9094982

Unmasking of an unusual myelin basic protein epitope during the process of myelin degeneration in humans: a potential mechanism for the generation of autoantigens.

A. Matsuo, G. C. Lee, K. Terai, K. Takami, W. F. Hickey, E. G. McGeer, and P. L. McGeer
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Abstract

A rabbit antiserum (anti-EP), induced against a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 68 to 86 of guinea pig myelin basic protein, powerfully immunostained abnormal-appearing oligodendrocytic processes and cell bodies in demyelinating areas associated with multiple sclerosis plaques. However, it failed to recognize any structures in normal human, rat, or guinea pig brain. The antiserum recognized the synthetic peptide QDENPVV, which corresponds to human myelin basic protein residues 82 to 88. Immunoabsorption with this peptide eliminated immunohistochemical staining. By contrast, several commercial antibodies recognizing nearby sequences of human myelin basic protein intensely stained all myelinated structures in both normal and multiple sclerosis tissue. The unusual epitope recognized by anti-EP appears to be accessible only in areas of myelin degeneration. If insults occur that repeatedly expose a region of MBP normally sheltered from immunosurveillance, a self-sustaining immune reaction might result.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
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