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Cross-reactivity of anti-galactocerebroside autoantibodies with a Trypanosoma brucei proteolipidic epitope

  1. M. Girard1,2,
  2. S. Bisser1,
  3. P. Buscher4,
  4. B. Bouteille1,
  5. J.-L. Preud’Homme3,
  6. M.-O. Jauberteau2

Article first published online: 24 DEC 2001

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2000.01166.x

Issue

Clinical & Experimental Immunology

Clinical & Experimental Immunology

Volume 119, Issue 3, pages 516–522, March 2000

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How to Cite

Girard, M., Bisser, S., Buscher, P., Bouteille, B., Preud’Homme, J.-L. and Jauberteau, M.-O. (2000), Cross-reactivity of anti-galactocerebroside autoantibodies with a Trypanosoma brucei proteolipidic epitope. Clinical & Experimental Immunology, 119: 516–522. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2000.01166.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute of Tropical Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges, Laboratories of Immunology

  2. 2

    University Hospital, Limoges and

  3. 3

    University Hospital, Poitiers), France, and

  4. 4

    Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Antwerpen, Belgium

* Dr M. O. Jauberteau, Laboratory of Immunology, University Hospital, 2 Avenue Martin Luther King, 87 042 Limoges, France. E-mail: jauberte@unilim.fr

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 DEC 2001
  2. Article first published online: 24 DEC 2001
  3. (Accepted for publication 23 November 1999)

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Keywords:

  • galactocerebrosides;
  • autoantibodies;
  • molecular mimicry;
  • Trypanosoma brucei

Pathogenic mechanisms of the demyelinating encephalopathy featuring the nervous phase of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) are largely unknown. They might include autoimmune disorders. A variety of autoantibodies is detected during the disease and we have previously evidenced anti-galactocerebroside (GalC) antibodies in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients in the nervous stage (stage II) of HAT. We now show that anti-GalC antibodies recognize an antigen located on the parasite membrane and common to different strains of trypanosomes. By using affinity chromatography with a rabbit anti-GalC antiserum, a 52-kD proteolipid was isolated from the membrane of Trypanosoma brucei (T. b.) brucei AnTat 1.9, AnTat 1.1E, and T. b. rhodesiense Etat 1.2/R and Etat 1.2/S. Antibodies directed against this antigen were found in the CSF from patients with nervous stage HAT. These CSF also contained anti-GalC antibodies and adsorption with the proteolipid decreased anti-GalC reactivity. Immunization of mice with this antigen induced the production of antibodies which cross-reacted with GalC but no protection from experimental infection with T. b. brucei. These data support the hypothesis that anti-GalC antibodies detected in the CSF from HAT patients might be induced by molecular mimicry with a parasite antigen.

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