Peripherin is a relevant neuroendocrine autoantigen recognized by islet-infiltrating B lymphocytes

J Immunol. 2007 May 15;178(10):6533-9. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.178.10.6533.

Abstract

Most of our knowledge of the antigenic repertoire of autoreactive B lymphocytes in type 1 diabetes (T1D) comes from studies on the antigenic specificity of both circulating islet-reactive autoantibodies and peripheral B lymphocyte hybridomas generated from human blood or rodent spleen. In a recent study, we generated hybridoma cell lines of infiltrating B lymphocytes from different mouse strains developing insulitis, but with different degrees of susceptibility to T1D, to characterize the antigenic specificity of islet-infiltrating B lymphocytes during progression of the disease. We found that many hybridomas produced mAbs restricted to the peripheral nervous system (PNS), thus indicating an active B lymphocyte response against PNS elements in the pancreatic islet during disease development. The aim of this study was to identify the autoantigen recognized by these anti-PNS mAbs. Our results showed that peripherin is the autoantigen recognized by all anti-PNS mAbs, and, therefore, a relevant neuroendocrine autoantigen targeted by islet-infiltrating B lymphocytes. Moreover, we discovered that the immune dominant epitope of this B lymphocyte immune response is found at the C-terminal end of Per58 and Per61 isoforms. In conclusion, our study strongly suggests that peripherin is a major autoantigen targeted during T1D development and poses a new question on why peripherin-specific B lymphocytes are mainly attracted to the islet during disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Autoantigens / metabolism*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / immunology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / pathology
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / metabolism
  • Female
  • Hybridomas
  • Insulinoma / immunology
  • Insulinoma / metabolism
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins / immunology*
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Islets of Langerhans / immunology*
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism*
  • Islets of Langerhans / pathology
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / immunology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neuroblastoma / immunology
  • Neuroblastoma / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Peripherins
  • Protein Isoforms / immunology
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Autoantigens
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • PRPH protein, human
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peripherins
  • Protein Isoforms