Identification of beta-tubulin isoform V as an autoantigen in allergic rhinitis by a proteomic approach

• Published in: Microbiology and immunology Vol. 48; no. 5; p. 427
• Main Authors: Nakamura, Manabu, Tsutsumi, Kouichiro, Ooka, Seido, Sekine, Taichi, Koizuka, Izumi, Nishioka, Kusuki, Kato, Tomohiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia 01.01.2004
• Subjects: Adult; Autoantibodies - blood; Autoantibodies - immunology; Autoantigens - immunology; Autoantigens - isolation & purification; Child; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; Female; Humans; Immunoblotting; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - chemistry; Male; Mass Spectrometry; Middle Aged; Protein Isoforms - immunology; Protein Isoforms - isolation & purification; Proteins - immunology; Proteins - isolation & purification; Proteomics; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 - immunology; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial - immunology; Tubulin - immunology; Tubulin - isolation & purification
• ISSN: 0385-5600; 1348-0421
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2004.tb03532.x

Autoantibodies to IgE and beta2-adrenergic receptor have been reported in patients with allergic rhinitis. To investigate whether autoimmunity in allergic rhinitis is directed to such limited molecules or directed to a wide range of self proteins, we here attempted to survey autoantigens/autoantibodies comprehensively, using proteomics. Specifically, we separated proteins extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by 2-dimensional electrophoresis and then detected autoantigens by subsequent western blotting with sera from patients with allergic rhinitis. As a result, we detected multiple autoantigens, some of which were further identified by mass fingerprinting. Next, we confirmed antigenicity of one of the identified autoantigens, beta-tubulin isoform V (beta-tubV), using a recombinant protein and then measured prevalence of the anti-beta-tubV autoantibodies. As a result, 52% of the tested patients with allergic rhinitis were found to possess anti-beta-tubV autoantibodies. Our study indicates that autoimmunity is a common phenomena and beta-tubV is one of the major autoantigens in allergic rhinitis.