Key result
Computer analysis reveals strong viral protein mimicry with myelin proteolipid, suggesting mechanisms for demyelinating syndromes.
Why the study?
Strong sequence similarities between myelin proteolipid protein and viral proteins suggest possible immunological cross-reactions involved in multiple sclerosis or post-infectious demyelinating syndromes.
Sequence similarities between myelin proteolipid and viral proteins suggest molecular mimicry may play a role in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis or post-infectious demyelinating syndromes.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Hypothesis-generating for molecular mimicry in demyelination; leaves open any role in MS or post-viral syndromes.
Computer analysis of the intrinsic membrane protein, myelin proteolipid, shows strong sequence similarities between the putative extramembrane segments of the proteolipid protein and a number of viral proteins, several of which infect humans. These similarities are even more striking than those reported previously between viral proteins and the encephalitogenic myelin basic protein (MBP). These findings, along with other reports of molecular mimicry by viruses, suggest that immunological cross-reactions between virus-induced antibodies or T-cells and analogous antigenic determinants (epitopes) in myelin proteolipid could be involved in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis or post-infectious demyelinating syndromes.
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Shaw et al. (1986) studied Multiple sclerosis or post-infectious demyelinating syndromes. Computer analysis of amino acid sequences was evaluated on Sequence similarities between myelin proteolipid and viral proteins. Computer analysis revealed strong sequence similarities between myelin proteolipid and several viral proteins, suggesting molecular mimicry may be involved in demyelinating syndromes.
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