This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kalsi, J K Articles by Hahn, B H Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kalsi, J K Articles by Hahn, B H Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The role of VH determinants in systemic lupus erythematosus

Centre for Rheumatology Research, Windeyer Institute for Medical Sciences, University College London, Cleveland St, London W1T 4JF, UKjkalsizz{at}hotmail.com

B H Hahn

Division of Rheumatology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

The V-regions of anti-DNA antibodies contain determinants which can drive the autoimmune in SLE. Most of the evidence comes from murine studies where VH-derived epitopes accelerate the disease process in lupus prone-mice and can elicit mild inflammatory changes reminiscent of lupus in healthy animals. T helper cells reactive with VH peptides arise spontaneously during the disease and are thought to assist production of both anti-peptide antibodies and the generation of autoantibodies that deposit in the glomeruli. In mice stimulatory epitopes may be unique to autoantibodies. As tolerogens VH peptides may delay or diminish the autoimmune response by altering the production of cytokines. An artificial VH peptide, (pCONCENSUS) has been derived and this inhibits responses to VH and other autoantigens but leaves the murine immune system intact and able to generate reponses to external antigens. Limited number of studies of V-region determinants of human anti-DNA MAbs indicate prior sensitization of lupus T cells to VH determinants and that V-region reactive T cells are not deleted in periphery of healthy individuals.

Key Words: SLE • anti-DNA antibodies • immunomodulation • VH peptides

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. Guo, D. Smith, A. Guth, K. Aviszus, and L. J. Wysocki T Cell Tolerance to Germline-Encoded Antibody Sequences in a Lupus-Prone Mouse J. Immunol., August 15, 2005; 175(4): 2184 - 2190. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. La Cava, F. M. Ebling, and B. H. Hahn Ig-Reactive CD4+CD25+ T Cells from Tolerized (New Zealand Black x New Zealand White)F1 Mice Suppress In Vitro Production of Antibodies to DNA J. Immunol., September 1, 2004; 173(5): 3542 - 3548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J K Kalsi, J Grossman, J Kim, P Sieling, D W Gjertson, E F Reed, F M Ebling, M Linker-Israeli, and B H Hahn Peptides from antibodies to DNA elicit cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: relation of cytokine pattern to disease duration Lupus, July 1, 2004; 13(7): 490 - 500. [Abstract] [PDF]