Aims/Hypothesis Although numerous environmental agents have been investigated over the years as possible triggers of type 1 diabetes (T1D), its causes remain unclear. We have already demonstrated an increased prevalence of antibodies against peptides derived from Mycobacterium avuim subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) homologous to human zinc transporter 8 protein (ZnT8) and proinsulin in Italian subjects at risk for or affected by T1D. In this study, we compared titers of the previously detected antibodies with seroreactivity to MAP lipopentapetide (L5P) that recently emerged as a strong immunogenic component able to specifically distinguish MAP from other mycobacteria. Methods Plasma of 32 children and youth at risk for T1D including follow-up samples and 42 agematched healthy controls (HC) recruited at the Tor Vergata University Hospital in Rome was analyzed by indirect ELISA for the presence of antibodies against MAP-derived epitopes MAP3865c133-141, MAP3865c125-133, MAP2404c70-85and MAP1,4αgbp157-173along with their ZnT8 and proinsulin homologs. The data were analyzed through two- Tailed Mann- Whitney U test and relation between variables was determined by principal component analysis. Results Responses to L5P were not detectable in subjects whose initial seroreactivity to MAP peptides and their human homologs was lost in follow-up samples, whereas anti-L5P antibodies appeared constantly in individuals with a stable immunity against MAP antigens. The overall coincidence in positivity to L5P and the four MAP epitopes both in children at risk for T1D and HC exceeded 90%. PLOS Conclusions MAP-derived homologs may cross-react with ZnT8 and proinsulin peptides inducing immune responses at a young age in subjects predisposed for T1D. Thus, L5P may have a diagnostic value to immediately indicate the presence of anti-MAP seroreactivity when evaluation of a more complex antibody status is not required. Almost complete coincidence in responses to both types of antigens lends support to the involvement of MAP in T1D.

Seroreactivity against Specific L5P antigen from mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis in children at risk for T1D / Sechi, Leonardo Antonio; Rapini, Novella; Biet, Frank; Piccinini, Simona; Bay, Sylvie; Manca Bitti, Maria Luisa; Niegowska, Magdalena; Lidano, Roberta. - In: PLOS ONE. - ISSN 1932-6203. - 11:6(2016), p. e0157962. [10.1371/journal.pone.0157962]

Seroreactivity against Specific L5P antigen from mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis in children at risk for T1D

Sechi, Leonardo Antonio;Niegowska, Magdalena;
2016-01-01

Abstract

Aims/Hypothesis Although numerous environmental agents have been investigated over the years as possible triggers of type 1 diabetes (T1D), its causes remain unclear. We have already demonstrated an increased prevalence of antibodies against peptides derived from Mycobacterium avuim subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) homologous to human zinc transporter 8 protein (ZnT8) and proinsulin in Italian subjects at risk for or affected by T1D. In this study, we compared titers of the previously detected antibodies with seroreactivity to MAP lipopentapetide (L5P) that recently emerged as a strong immunogenic component able to specifically distinguish MAP from other mycobacteria. Methods Plasma of 32 children and youth at risk for T1D including follow-up samples and 42 agematched healthy controls (HC) recruited at the Tor Vergata University Hospital in Rome was analyzed by indirect ELISA for the presence of antibodies against MAP-derived epitopes MAP3865c133-141, MAP3865c125-133, MAP2404c70-85and MAP1,4αgbp157-173along with their ZnT8 and proinsulin homologs. The data were analyzed through two- Tailed Mann- Whitney U test and relation between variables was determined by principal component analysis. Results Responses to L5P were not detectable in subjects whose initial seroreactivity to MAP peptides and their human homologs was lost in follow-up samples, whereas anti-L5P antibodies appeared constantly in individuals with a stable immunity against MAP antigens. The overall coincidence in positivity to L5P and the four MAP epitopes both in children at risk for T1D and HC exceeded 90%. PLOS Conclusions MAP-derived homologs may cross-react with ZnT8 and proinsulin peptides inducing immune responses at a young age in subjects predisposed for T1D. Thus, L5P may have a diagnostic value to immediately indicate the presence of anti-MAP seroreactivity when evaluation of a more complex antibody status is not required. Almost complete coincidence in responses to both types of antigens lends support to the involvement of MAP in T1D.
2016
Seroreactivity against Specific L5P antigen from mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis in children at risk for T1D / Sechi, Leonardo Antonio; Rapini, Novella; Biet, Frank; Piccinini, Simona; Bay, Sylvie; Manca Bitti, Maria Luisa; Niegowska, Magdalena; Lidano, Roberta. - In: PLOS ONE. - ISSN 1932-6203. - 11:6(2016), p. e0157962. [10.1371/journal.pone.0157962]
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Niegowska_M_Seroreactivity_against_specific_L5P.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione finale pubblicata)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 418.54 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
418.54 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11388/263610
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 9
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 10
social impact