Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis and myelin basic protein specific epitopes are highly recognized by sera from patients with Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

J Neuroimmunol. 2018 May 15:318:97-102. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.02.013. Epub 2018 Feb 28.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the main environmental agent associated to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Following to studies reporting an increased prevalence of antibodies against peptides derived from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) homologous to EBV and human epitopes (MBP85-98, IRF5424-434) in multiple sclerosis (MS), we investigated whether seroreactivity to these antigens display a NMOSD-specific pattern. The sera of 34 NMOSD patients showed elevated levels of antibodies against MAP and MBP compared to healthy controls (44% vs. 5%, p < 0.0002 and 50% vs. 2%, p < 0.0001, respectively), while, unlike in MS, responsiveness to EBV was similar.

Keywords: AQP4; Epstein-Barr virus; IRF5; MBP; Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis; Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / immunology*
  • Myelin Basic Protein / immunology*
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • Epitopes
  • IRF5 protein, human
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors
  • Myelin Basic Protein