Human cytomegalovirus pp65 peptide-induced autoantibodies cross-reacts with TAF9 protein and induces lupus-like autoimmunity in BALB/c mice.

ABSTRACT: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been linked to the triggering of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We proposed that B cell epitope region of HCMV phosphoprotein 65 (HCMVpp65)_422-439 mimics an endogenous antigen and initiates lupus-like autoimmunity. Amino acid homology between HCMVpp65_422-439 and TAF9_134-144 (TATA-box binding protein associated factor 9, TAF9) was investigated using a similarity search in NCBI protein BLAST program (BLASTP). A murine model was used to confirm their antigenicity and ability to induce lupus-like symptoms. HCMVpp65_422-439 induced immune responses with the presence of specific antibodies against HCMVpp65_422-439 and TAF9_134-144, as well as anti-nuclear and anti-double-stranded (ds)DNA antibodi

SUBMITTER: Hsieh AH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7295797 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature