Epitope-specific antibody response is controlled by immunoglobulin V(H) polymorphisms.

ABSTRACT: Autoantibody formation is essential for the development of certain autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-type II collagen (CII) antibodies are found in RA patients; they interact with cartilage in vivo and are often highly pathogenic in the mouse. Autoreactivity to CII is directed to multiple epitopes and conserved between mice and humans. We have previously mapped the antibody response to CII in a heterogeneous stock cohort of mice, with a strong association with the IgH locus. We positioned the genetic polymorphisms and determined the structural requirements controlling antibody recognition of one of the major CII epitopes. Polymorphisms at positions S31R and W33T of the associated variable heavy chain (VH) allele were identified and confirmed by gene sequencing. The F

SUBMITTER: Raposo B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3949579 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature