Cross-reactivity between Borrelia burgdorferi flagellin and a human axonal 64,000 molecular weight protein

J Infect Dis. 1993 Jun;167(6):1372-8. doi: 10.1093/infdis/167.6.1372.

Abstract

The serum of patients with Lyme neurologic disease contain antibodies that bind to human axonal antigens that cross-react with Borrelia burgdorferi. The sera also bind to SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells, especially the neuritic processes of these cells. H9724, a murine IgG monoclonal antibody to B. burgdorferi flagellin, binds to an SK-N-SH cell protein of approximately 64,000 apparent molecular weight (M(r)). H9724 immunoprecipitates a protein of the same M(r) (p64) from the cells and from a delipidated preparation of human peripheral nerve. The Lyme disease patient sera that bind to human axons and SK-N-SH cells also bind to the immunoprecipitated p64. Immunologic cross-reactivity between borrelial and human axonal proteins may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of Lyme neurologic disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / immunology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / immunology*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Flagellin / immunology*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / immunology*
  • Rats
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Flagellin