Cross-reactivity between human cytomegalovirus peptide 981-1003 and myelin oligodendroglia glycoprotein peptide 35-55 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been documented to have various clinical and pathological presentations. However the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Viral infections may play a certain role in the etiopathogenesis of MS. This study was designed to explore whether different phospholipid peptides and viral mimic peptides induce antigen specific lesion in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an MS animal model. In the present study, Lewis rats immunized with myelin basic protein (MBP) 82-99 or MBP68-86 exhibited clinical signs of EAE and inflammatory infiltrates throughout CNS. Immunization with myelin oligodendroglia glycoprotein (MOG) 35-55 also induced inflammatory infiltrates in spinal cords. Although cytomegalovirus (CMV) 981-1003 failed to induce clinical signs of EAE and inflammatory infiltrates, immunological examination revealed that CMV981-1003 cross-reacted with serum from rats immunized with MOG35-55, and vice versa. Further, MOG35-55 triggered CMV981-1003 specific lymphocytes recruitment in spleen. Together these, this study provides certain evidences for various pathological manifestations of EAE and the linkage of viral mimic peptides with phospholipid peptides. Molecular mimicry may be an explanation the pathogenesis of MS.