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Requirements for autoimmune responses to mouse gastric autoantigens
Author(s) -
Scarff Katrina L.,
Judd Louise M.,
Wilson Wendy E.,
Laurie Karen L.,
Toh BanHock,
Gleeson Paul A.,
Van Driel Ian R.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2001.01327.x
Subject(s) - autoimmune gastritis , autoantibody , autoimmunity , parietal cell , immunology , immune system , antigen , thymectomy , biology , ovalbumin , antibody , autoimmune disease , gastric mucosa , stomach , myasthenia gravis , biochemistry
Summary Autoimmune gastritis, in which the H + /K + ‐ATPase of parietal cells is the major antigen, is one of the most common autoimmune diseases. Here we examined if specific properties of the H + /K + ‐ATPase or parietal cells are involved in rendering them autoimmune targets. The model antigens β‐galactosidase and ovalbumin (OVA) were expressed in parietal cells of transgenic mice. On experimental induction of autoimmune gastritis by neonatal thymectomy, autoantibodies to β‐galactosidase developed in mice expressing β‐galactosidase in parietal cells, a response that was independent of either the response to the gastric H + /K + ‐ATPase or gastric inflammation. In contrast, mice that expressed OVA in parietal cells did not exhibit an antibody response to OVA after thymectomy. However, increasing the frequency of anti‐OVA T lymphocytes in OVA‐expressing mice resulted in autoantibodies to OVA and gastritis. These studies indicate that parietal cells can present a variety of antigens to the immune system. Factors such as the identity and expression level of the autoantigen and the frequency of autoreactive T cells play a role in determining the prevalence and outcome of the particular immune response. In addition, as not all mice of a particular genotype displayed autoimmunity, random events are involved in determining the target of autoimmune recognition.