Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Materials and methods

3. Results

4. Discussion

References

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Paper 10
FEES 15832
FEES Letters 369 (1995) 243-248

M. Fielder³, S.J. Pirt^a, I. Tarpey³, C. Wilson³, P. Cunningham", C. Ettelaie^c, A. Binder", S. Bansal⁶,

A. Ebringer^a"^f>*
Infection and Immunity Group, Division of Life Sciences, King"s College, London W8 7AH, UK
Department of Computing, King"s College, London WS 7AH, UK
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
* Department of Rheumatology, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK

Department of Pharmacy, King"s College, London W8 7AH, UK Department of Rlieumatology, Middleesex Hospital, UCL School of Medicine, London, UK

Received 16 June 1995

Abstract Molecular mimicry has been shown between two sequences of Klebsiella pneumoniae pulD secretion protein (DRDE) with HLA-B27 (DRED) and pulA (pullulanase) enzyme (Gly-X-Pro) with types I, HI and IV collagen respectively. IgG antibody levels in AS patients were elevated against 16mer synthetic pep-tides of HLA-B27 and pulD by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) compared to controls (P < 0.001). ELISA assays against A", pneumoniae grown in the absence and presence of pullulan demonstrated significant levels of IgA antibody in AS patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). Increased IgA and IgG antibody levels to pulA and types I and IV collagen were observed in AS patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). These observations could be relevant in the sequence of molecular events in AS.

Key words: Ankylosing spondylitis; Pullulanase; Novel sequence in pullulanase; Molecular mimicry; Klebsiella pneumoniae