Molecular characterization of antibody specificities against myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein in autoimmune demyelination.

ABSTRACT: Myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is a target antigen for myelin-destructive Abs in autoimmune central nervous system demyelinating disorders. Little is known about the molecular and structural basis of these pathogenic Ab responses. Here, we have characterized anti-MOG Ab specificities in the marmoset model of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, by means of a combinatorial IgG-Fab library. We found that a diverse population of Ig genes encodes for auto-Abs that exclusively recognize conformation-dependent antigenic targets on MOG. These antigenic domains correspond to exposed epitopes in vivo, as the Fab fragments recognize native MOG in situ in marmoset brain tissue. The Ab fragments described here represent Ab specificities that are common constituents of the humoral immune

SUBMITTER: von Budingen HC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC123046 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature