Unique epitopes in RNA helicase II/Gu protein recognized by serum from a watermelon stomach patient

Citation
Mc. Garcia et al., Unique epitopes in RNA helicase II/Gu protein recognized by serum from a watermelon stomach patient, MOL IMMUNOL, 37(7), 2000, pp. 351-359
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Immunology
Journal title
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
ISSN journal
01615890 → ACNP
Volume
37
Issue
7
Year of publication
2000
Pages
351 - 359
Database
ISI
SICI code
0161-5890(200005)37:7<351:UEIRHI>2.0.ZU;2-Z
Abstract
RNA helicase II/Gu (RH II/Gu) is a nucleolar antigen originally identified using an autoimmune serum from a patient with watermelon stomach. A later r eport showed that anti-RH II/Gu autoantibodies were also present at low fre quency in connective tissue disease (CTD) patients who did not show any sym ptoms suggestive of a watermelon stomach lesion. In an attempt to understan d the relationship between watermelon stomach, also called gastric antral v ascular ectasia (GAVE), and autoimmune disorder, we identified the antigeni c sites recognized by these autoantibodies. Serum Gu uniquely recognized ep itopes at amino acids 646-748 of RH II/Gu and all four CTD patient sera rec ognized antigenic sites within amino acids 1-173. Anti-RH II/Gu serum produ ced by immunizing rabbit with recombinant human RH II/Gu protein bound to t he same antigenic sites recognized by the CTD patient sera, but it did not recognize the serum Cu epitopes. Results are also presented showing the use of these anti-RH II/Gu antibodies in the analysis of the evolutionary cons ervation of RH II/Gu in human, monkey and mouse. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.