MYELIN PROTEIN PO AS A POTENTIAL AUTOANTIGEN IN AUTOIMMUNE INNER-EAR DISEASE

We have previously shown that a 30,000 M(r) protein extracted from gui nea pig inner ear tissue is recognized by autoantibodies present in th e serum of patients suffering front autoimmune inner ear disease, This protein was localized in the modiolus and in the organ of Corti, We h ave now identified this protein by a combination of microsequencing an d matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spec trometry of its tryptic peptides, A partial sequence of the protein Tv as thereby determined, These data and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresi s followed by immunoblotting experiments showed that the 30,000 M,inne r ear antigen is the major peripheral myelin protein Po, This suggests that protein Po may be an important autoantigen in autoimmune inner e ar disease.