[Heat shock protein 105 in multiple sclerosis]

Abstract

Heat shock proteins are known to be immunodominant antigens of bacteria. They are strongly conserved proteins present in all eukaryotic and prokaryotic cellular organisms. HSP105/HSP110 family is expressed most abundantly in the brain. Here, we demonstrate the immune responses to HSP105 in multiple sclerosis(MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE). We found that (a) the frequency of positive IgG anti-hHSP105 antibody increased in MS patients, (b) hHSP105 expression was found to be enhanced in MS lesions, (c) in the ELISPOT assay, significantly lower the IL-10 response to hHSP105 in MS patients than healthy controls, (d) mice vaccinated with HSP105-DNA developed an exacerbated form of EAE. Our data indicated that immune responses to HSP105 may play a regulatory role in inflammation during MS and EAE.