Expression of antigen reactive with a monoclonal antibody to HTLV-1 P19 in salivary glands in Sjögren's syndrome

Clin Exp Immunol. 1992 Jul;89(1):46-51. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1992.tb06875.x.

Abstract

To examine the possible involvement of retroviruses in Sjögren's syndrome (SS), labial salivary gland sections from 99 individuals were probed with three MoAbs to core (gag) proteins of human T cell leukaemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) and two MoAbs to HIV-1. Sections from 31% of 39 patients with primary SS (pSS) contained an epithelial cytoplasmic protein reactive with a MoAb (197) to the p19 group specific antigen (gag) of HTLV-1. The antigen was also detected in samples from 24% of 17 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and SS, 21% of 14 patients with sicca symptoms and 12.5% of 16 patients with other connective tissue diseases. It was not found in the salivary glands of 13 normal controls. A second MoAb to p19 gag, a MoAb to the p24 gag of HTLV-1 and MoAbs to HIV-1 p17 and p24 gags gave negative reactions. Serum antibodies to HTLV-1 were negative, confirming that the antigen was not part of HTLV-1. The antigen showed properties consistent with an endogenous retrovirus in that it was absent in healthy tissues or resting cells but inducible by stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). It appeared to be distinct from the endogenous retroviral sequence HRES-1. These data suggest the presence of an endogenous retrovirus in salivary gland epithelium which could contribute to the chronic inflammation of SS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / microbiology
  • Connective Tissue Diseases / immunology
  • Cross Reactions
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Gene Products, gag / biosynthesis*
  • HIV Antigens / biosynthesis
  • HIV Core Protein p24 / biosynthesis
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Phytohemagglutinins
  • Retroviridae Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / biosynthesis*
  • Salivary Glands / immunology*
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / immunology*
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / microbiology*
  • Viral Proteins*
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • 197 antigen
  • Gene Products, gag
  • HIV Antigens
  • HIV Core Protein p24
  • Phytohemagglutinins
  • Retroviridae Proteins
  • Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic
  • Viral Proteins
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • p17 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1
  • p19 protein, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1
  • p24 protein, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1
  • Interferon-gamma