A Study of Molecular Mimicry and Immunological Cross-reactivity between Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Myelin Mimics
On the basis of the reported association between hepatitis B vaccination (HBvacc) and autoimmune demyelinating complications such as multiple sclerosis (MS), we have looked for aminoacid similarities between the small hepatitis B virus surface antigen (SHBsAg),...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2005-01-01
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| Series: | Clinical and Developmental Immunology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17402520500285247 |
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| Summary: | On the basis of the reported association between hepatitis B vaccination
(HBvacc) and autoimmune demyelinating complications such as multiple sclerosis
(MS), we have looked for aminoacid similarities between the small hepatitis
B virus surface antigen (SHBsAg), and the MS-autoantigens myelin basic protein
(MBP) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) that could serve as targets
of immunological cross-reactivity. Twenty-mer peptides spanning 4 SHBsAg/MOG
and 1 SHBsAg/MBP mimicking pairs, were constructed and tested by ELISA as
targets of cross-reactive responses. A total of 147 samples from 58 adults were
collected before HBvacc (58/58), and post-HBvacc (48/58 before the second and
41/58 before the third boost). Eighty-seven sera from anti-SHBsAg antibody
negative patients with various diseases were tested as pathological controls.
Reactivity to at least one of the SHBsAg peptides was found in 8 (14%)
pre-HBvacc subjects; amongst the remaining 50, reactivity to at least one of the
SHBsAg peptides appeared in 47 (94%) post-HBvacc. Reactivity to at least one
of the MOG mimics was present in 4 (8%) pre-HBvacc and in 30 (60%)
post-HBvacc (p < 0.001). Overall 30/50 (60%) vaccinees had SHBsAg/MOG
double reactivity on at least one occasion compared to none before-vaccination
and in 2 (2%) of the pathological controls (p < 0.001 for both). SHBsAg/MOG
double reactivity was cross-reactive as confirmed by inhibition studies. At 6 months
post-vaccination, 3 of the 4 anti-MOG reactive cases before vaccination and 7
of the 24 (29%) of the anti-MOG reactive cases at 3 months post-vaccination had
lost their reactivity to MOG5-24. There was no reactivity to the SHBsAg/MBP
mimics. None of the vaccinees reported symptoms of demyelinating disorders. In
view of the observed SHBsAg/MOG cross-reactivity, the vaccine's possible role as
an immunomodulator of viral/self cross-reactivity must be further investigated. |
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| ISSN: | 1740-2522 1740-2530 |