| First Author | Haneji N | Year | 1997 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 276 |
| Issue | 5312 | Pages | 604-7 |
| PubMed ID | 9110981 | Mgi Jnum | J:39799 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:87148 | Doi | 10.1126/science.276.5312.604 |
| Citation | Haneji N, et al. (1997) Identification of alpha-fodrin as a candidate autoantigen in primary Sjogren's syndrome. Science 276(5312):604-7 |
| abstractText | It is unclear whether organ-specific autoantigens are critical for the development of primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS). A 120-kilodalton organ-specific autoantigen was purified from salivary gland tissues of an NFS/sld mouse model of human SS. The amino-terminal residues were identical to those of the human cytoskeletal protein alpha-fodrin. The purified antigen induced proliferative T cell responses and production of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in vitro. Neonatal immunization with the 120-kilodalton antigen prevented the disease in mice. Sera from patients with SS reacted positively with purified antigen and recombinant human alpha-fodrin protein, whereas those from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis did not. Thus, the immune response to 120-kilodalton alpha-fodrin could be important in the initial development of primary SS. |
