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Autoantigens Identified by Screening a Human Heart cDNA Library with Acute Rheumatic Fever Sera

Towers, Rebecca J., Bolm, Maike, Currie, Bart J., Chhatwal, Gursharan S. and Fagan, Peter K. (2009). Autoantigens Identified by Screening a Human Heart cDNA Library with Acute Rheumatic Fever Sera. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,1173(Contemporary Challenges in Autoimmunity):83-91.

Document type: Journal Article

IRMA ID 10139xPUB70
Title Autoantigens Identified by Screening a Human Heart cDNA Library with Acute Rheumatic Fever Sera
Author Towers, Rebecca J.
Bolm, Maike
Currie, Bart J.
Chhatwal, Gursharan S.
Fagan, Peter K.
Journal Name Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Publication Date 2009
Volume Number 1173
Issue Number Contemporary Challenges in Autoimmunity
ISSN 1749-6632   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Start Page 83
End Page 91
Total Pages 9
Place of Publication US
Publisher Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an autoimmune sequela of group A streptococcal infection mostly affecting school-aged children. Recurrent episodes of ARF can result in the development of rheumatic heart disease (RHD). One in 40 indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory is affected by RHD. This disease mostly impacts young people; 45% of those who require heart valve surgery in Australia due to RHD are younger than 25 years old. ARF is characterized by autoimmune attack of the heart; therefore, the presence of the autoantibodies involved could potentially be used to diagnose ARF. To this end, a human heart cDNA library was screened with serum from a patient with ARF, and 12 autoreactive human heart antigens were identified. They include five different IgG heavy chains and a range of tissue-specific cell-signaling proteins, species of which have been implicated in other autoimmune diseases. Preliminary ELISA results show that ARF patients have significantly higher levels of antibodies recognizing the cardiac autoantigens than controls. These antigens are promising candidates for the development of a serological assay for the diagnosis of ARF. The nature of the proteins identified has exciting implications for future research into the pathogenesis of ARF.
Keywords acute rheumatic fever
autoantigen
Australian indigenous communities
human heart cDNA expression library
Group A streptococcus
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04653.x   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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