Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Potential molecular mimicry between the human endogenous retrovirus W family envelope proteins and myelin proteins in multiple sclerosis

Ramasamy, Ranjan; Joseph, Blessy; Whittall, Trevor

Potential molecular mimicry between the human endogenous retrovirus W family envelope proteins and myelin proteins in multiple sclerosis Thumbnail


Authors

Ranjan Ramasamy

Blessy Joseph

Trevor Whittall Trevor.Whittall@uwe.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science (Immunology)



Abstract

© 2017 European Federation of Immunological Societies Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease caused by the destruction of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system. The major target molecules for the immune response are the myelin basic protein, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and proteolipid protein but the aetiology of the disease is as yet poorly understood. The HLA Class II allele DRB1*1501 in particular as well as DRB5*0101 and the expression of human endogenous retroviral envelope proteins have been linked to multiple sclerosis but the molecular mechanisms relating these remain to be elucidated. We hypothesised that cross-reactive peptide epitopes in retroviral envelope proteins and myelin proteins that can be presented by the two Class II DR molecules may play a role in initiating multiple sclerosis. Sequence homologies between retroviral envelope and myelin proteins and in silico predictions of peptides derived from them that are able to bind to the two Class II alleles were examined to test the hypothesis. The results support the hypothesis that molecular mimicry in peptide epitopes from envelope proteins of the HERV-W family of endogenous retroviruses and myelin proteins is possible and could potentially trigger multiple sclerosis. Mimicry between syncytin-1, a HERV-W envelope protein that is expressed during placentation, and myelin proteins may also explain the higher prevalence of multiple sclerosis in women. Experiments to test the ability of the identified peptide epitopes to activate TH cells are required to confirm the present findings.

Citation

Ramasamy, R., Joseph, B., & Whittall, T. (2017). Potential molecular mimicry between the human endogenous retrovirus W family envelope proteins and myelin proteins in multiple sclerosis. Immunology Letters, 183, 79-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imlet.2017.02.003

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 7, 2017
Online Publication Date Feb 9, 2017
Publication Date Mar 1, 2017
Deposit Date Apr 24, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Immunology Letters
Print ISSN 0165-2478
Electronic ISSN 1879-0542
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 183
Pages 79-85
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imlet.2017.02.003
Keywords autoimmunity, human endogenous retroviruses, molecular mimicry, multiple sclerosis, myelin proteins
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/890508
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.imlet.2017.02.003
Additional Information Corporate Creators : Department of Applied Sciences, University of West of England, Frenchay Campus, Bristol, BS16 1QY, ID-FISH Technology Inc., 797 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303, United States of America;, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, United Kingdom

Files






You might also like



Downloadable Citations