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KMID : 0923620140140010007
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Immune Network
2014 Volume.14 No. 1 p.7 ~ p.13
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Potential Role of Bacterial Infection in Autoimmune Diseases: A New Aspect of Molecular Mimicry
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Alam Je-Han
Kim Yong-Chul
Choi Young-Nim
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Abstract
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Molecular mimicry is an attractive mechanism for triggering autoimmunity. In this review, we explore the potential role of evolutionary conserved bacterial proteins in the production of autoantibodies with focus on granulomatosis with poly-angiitis (GPA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Seven auto-antigens characterized in GPA and RA were BLASTed against a bacterial protein database. Of the seven auto-antigens, proteinase 3, type II collagen, binding immunoglo-bulin protein, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, ?-enolase, and heterogeneous nuclear ribonuclear protein have well- conserved bacterial orthologs. Importantly, those bacterial orthologs are also found in human-associated bacteria. The wide distribution of the highly conserved stress proteins or enzymes among the members of the normal flora and com-mon infectious microorganisms raises a new question on how cross-reactive autoantibodies are not produced during the immune response to these bacteria in most healthy people. Understanding the mechanisms that deselect auto-reactive B cell clones during the germinal center reaction to homolo-gous foreign antigens may provide a novel strategy to treat autoimmune diseases.
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KEYWORD
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Molecular mimicry, Autoantigens, Bacterial orthologs, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Rheumatoid arthritis
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