Molecular analysis of human cardiac myosin-cross-reactive B- and T-cell epitopes of the group A streptococcal M5 protein.

The group A streptococcal M protein is an important virulence determinant eliciting protective and autoimmune responses against the streptococcus and cardiac myosin, respectively. In this report, the major human cardiac myosin-cross-reactive T-cell epitopes of M5 protein are identified and localized to myosin-like repeats within the M5 molecule. BALB/c mice were immunized with human cardiac myosin, and the dominant myosin-cross-reactive T-cell epitopes of M5 protein were identified with a panel of 23 overlapping peptides spanning the A, B, and C repeat regions of M5 protein. Human cardiac myosin-cross-reactive T-cell epitopes of M5 protein were localized to several sequences in the M5 peptides NT4 (GLKTENEGLKTENEGLKTE), NT5 (KKEHEAENDKLKQQRDTL), B1B2 (VKDKIAKEQENKETIGTL), B2 (TIGTLKKILDETVKDKIA), B3A (IGTLKKILDETVKDKLAK), and C3 (KGLRRDLDASREAKKQ). The NT4 repeated sequence LKTEN was highly homologous with a site conserved in cardiac myosins, the B repeat region peptides were 47% homologous to human cardiac myosin amino acid sequence, and the C3 sequence RRDL was identical to a highly conserved site in skeletal and cardiac myosins. Immunization of BALB/c mice with each of the overlapping M5 peptides revealed myosin-cross-reactive B-cell epitopes throughout the A and C repeat regions and one major epitope in the B repeat region containing the previously reported Gln-Lys-Ser-Lys-Gln (QKSKQ) epitope. The data suggest that the M5 peptides elicited higher antibody titers to cardiac myosin than to skeletal myosin and that several sites in the A and B repeat regions of M5 protein induced myocardial inflammatory infiltrates.

Molecular analysis of V gene sequences encoding cytotoxic anti-streptococcal/anti-myosin monoclonal antibody 36.2.2 that recognizes the heart cell surface protein laminin.

Anti-streptococcal/anti-myosin mAb 36.2.2 is unique among the cross-reactive anti-streptococcal mAbs due to its cytotoxicity for rat heart cells and its ability to strongly label the surface of heart cells in indirect immunofluorescence assays. In this study, cytotoxic mAb 36.2.2 was found to react strongly with the extracellular matrix protein laminin in immunoblots and inhibition assays, while 11 other cross-reactive anti-streptococcal mAbs did not react with laminin and were not cytotoxic. Cytotoxicity appeared to correlate with the presence of laminin on the surface of cells. Heavy and light chain variable region genes encoding mAb 36.2.2 were highly homologous to other V genes encoding anti-carbohydrate and/or autoantibodies. VH, JH, and Jkappa segments of mAb 36.2.2 may be encoded by germline gene segments. The VH segment may be identical with an as yet unidentified VH7183 family germline sequence, and the 36.2.2 Vkappa region gene is encoded by a Vkappa8 family member.

Cytotoxic and viral neutralizing antibodies crossreact with streptococcal M protein, enteroviruses, and human cardiac myosin.

The development of autoimmunity in certain instances is related to infectious agents. In this report, cytotoxic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that recognize epitopes on both enteroviruses and the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes are described. Murine anti-streptococcal mAbs that were crossreactive with streptococcal M protein, human cardiac myosin, and other alpha-helical coiled-coil molecules were found to neutralize coxsackieviruses B3 and B4 or poliovirus type 1. The viral-neutralizing anti-streptococcal mAbs were also cytotoxic for heart and fibroblast cell lines and reacted with viral capsid proteins on a Western immunoblot. Alignment of amino acid sequences shared between streptococcal M protein, coxsackie-virus B3 capsid protein VP1, and myosin revealed 40% identity in a 14- to 15-amino acid overlap. Synthetic peptides containing these sequences blocked mAb reactivity with streptococcal M protein. The data show that antibodies against alpha-helical structures of bacterial and viral antigens can lead to cytotoxic reactions and may be one mechanism to explain the origin of autoimmune heart disease.

Autoimmune determinants of rheumatic carditis: localization of epitopes in human cardiac myosin.

Rheumatic carditis is a sequela of group A streptococcal throat infection. Although the pathogenic mechanisms which lead to heart damage in acute rheumatic fever (ARF) are not well understood, autoimmune processes have been implicated, involving molecular mimicry between streptococci and the human heart. We have studied the immunological cross-reactions between the group A Streptococcus and human heart to understand their molecular and immunological basis. Human and mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and affinity-purified anti-myosin antibodies from acute rheumatic fever sera were characterized and shown to cross-react with group A streptococcal M protein and myosin. Studies of proteolytic fragments of human cardiac myosin identified sites of cross-reactivity in the rod region of the myosin heavy chain. Murine monoclonal antibodies cross-reactive with streptococcal M protein and myosin recognized epitopes located in the S2 and light meromyosin (LMM) subfragments of the heavy chain. None of the cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies recognized the S1 subfragment. One broadly cross-reactive monoclonal antibody was highly cytotoxic for heart cells in vitro and reactive with the LMM fragment. The data suggest that the cross-reactive epitopes recognized by these antibodies are conformational, dependent upon their alpha-helical structures, and potentially damaging to host tissues.

Monoclonal antibodies to Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1 lipopolysaccharide: demonstration of antigenic similarities among several serotypes.

Murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced which were specific for Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1 lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The MAbs also reacted with LPS present in a partially purified antigen derived from a saline extract of the organism. The epitope to which the MAbs were directed was a carbohydrate which was sensitive to oxidation with periodate, had a molecular weight between 14,000 and 25,000 as determined by immunoblotting, and was present in a crude O-antigen preparation of P. haemolytica LPS. The MAbs did not react with purified capsular polysaccharide from P. haemolytica serotype 1. In an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reaction of the MAbs with LPS obtained from 14 gram-negative bacteria failed to detect any cross-reactivity with P. haemolytica LPS. However, the MAbs detected antigenic similarities among P. haemolytica serotypes 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 12 and, to a lesser extent, 4 and 14. These studies indicate that the LPS-O-antigens from several P. haemolytica serotypes have similar epitopes and may be partially responsible for shared antigenicity among serotypes.

Chromatographic separation and characterization of Pasteurella haemolytica cytotoxin.

Biochemical and immunologic properties of the cytotoxin (leukotoxin) produced by Pasteurella haemolytica were examined. Crude, bacteria-free supernatants from logarithmic phase P haemolytica were fractionated, using a series of column chromatographic techniques. Sequential anion exchange chromatography, gel-filtration chromatography, and chromatofocusing resulted in a cytotoxic substance (cytotoxin-C) of approximately 160 kilodaltons (kD), as determined by use of gel-filtration chromatography. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of cytotoxin-C yielded 3 protein bands with relative mobilities of 0.37, 0.42, and 0.63. On the basis of immunoblotting with a cytotoxin-neutralizing bovine immunoglobulin for antigen detection, the 2 low-mobility bands shared a strong region of immunogenicity. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, principal protein constituents of cytotoxin-C were found at 160, 66, 57, and 23 kD. Using immunoblotting with cytotoxin-neutralizing immunoglobulin, strong, distinct reactions with the 66- and 57-kD bands were detected. Immunization of rabbits and mice with cytotoxin-C resulted in sera that reacted strongly with cytotoxin-C in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunodiffusion assays. The major immunogenic proteins also were detected by use of immunoblotting with anticytotoxin-C sera from rabbits and mice. Postinoculation rabbit sera neutralized crude cytotoxin.