biostudies-literatureHou YNCRR NIH HHSNIAID NIH HHSNCI NIH HHS2031-41https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC2701875biostudies-literatureUnknown119(7)Chronic prostatitis is a common disease of unclear etiology and has no specific treatment. Mice deficient in the expression of the autoimmune regulator (Aire) gene, which are defective in thymic expression of self antigens and central tolerance, develop spontaneous prostatitis. In this study, we found that Aire-deficient mice developed spontaneous B and T cell immune responses to a prostate autoantigen, seminal vesicle secretory protein 2 (SVS2), which we believe to be novel. We show that thymic expression of this self antigen was Aire dependent. Moreover, prostatitis was induced in WT mice through immunization with SVS2, demonstrating that immunity to SVS2 was sufficient to induce prostatitis. The clinical relevance of this antigen was highlighted by our observation that patients with chrThe Journal of clinical investigationAn aberrant prostate antigen-specific immune response causes prostatitis in mice and is associated with chronic prostatitis in humans.PMC2701875R01 CA85784U19 AI056388UL1 RR024143R01 CA102303Kwek SDao VMcNeel DGDeVoss JAnderson MSFong LHou YSimko JPfalseAn aberrant prostate antigen-specific immune response causes prostatitis in mice and is associated with chronic prostatitis in humans.Chronic prostatitis is a common disease of unclear etiology and has no specific treatment. Mice deficient in the expression of the autoimmune regulator (Aire) gene, which are defective in thymic expression of self antigens and central tolerance, develop spontaneous prostatitis. In this study, we found that Aire-deficient mice developed spontaneous B and T cell immune responses to a prostate autoantigen, seminal vesicle secretory protein 2 (SVS2), which we believe to be novel. We show that thymic expression of this self antigen was Aire dependent. Moreover, prostatitis was induced in WT mice through immunization with SVS2, demonstrating that immunity to SVS2 was sufficient to induce prostatitis. The clinical relevance of this antigen was highlighted by our observation that patients with chr2009-01-01T00:00:00Z2009 Jul2025-04-04T09:28:31.349Z2019-03-27T00:23:11ZS-EPMC27018751960355610.1172/jci3833210.1172/JCI38332