Rhodes G, Carson D A, Valbracht J, Houghten R, Vaughan J H
J Immunol. 1985 Jan;134(1):211-6.
Humans infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis, develop antibodies against a nuclear antigen (EBNA) that is present in virally transformed B lymphocytes. The EBNA protein contains a unique glycine-alanine repeating sequence. We have synthesized peptides corresponding to various regions of the EBNA molecule within and near this sequence. Rabbit antibodies against the peptides within the sequence reacted directly with the EBNA protein, as detected by Western blotting. The sera of individuals with antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus contained abundant antibodies also reactive with one or several of the synthetic peptides within the sequence. Moreover, human antibodies against these simple peptides were induced specifically early in the course of infectious mononucleosis. When compared with normal controls, antibody levels to the glycine-alanine peptides were significantly higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and progressive systemic sclerosis, but not in patients with two other autoimmune diseases. These results document that i) antibodies against the peptides detect the EBNA protein, ii) humans infected with EBV produce high titers of antibodies reactive with these synthetic antigens, and iii) antibody titers against the peptides are abnormally elevated in certain autoimmune diseases.
感染爱泼斯坦-巴尔病毒（EBV）（传染性单核细胞增多症的病原体）的人类会产生针对一种核抗原（EBNA）的抗体，该抗原存在于病毒转化的B淋巴细胞中。EBNA蛋白包含一个独特的甘氨酸-丙氨酸重复序列。我们合成了与该序列内部及附近的EBNA分子各个区域相对应的肽段。通过蛋白质印迹法检测发现，针对该序列内肽段的兔抗体可直接与EBNA蛋白发生反应。具有抗爱泼斯坦-巴尔病毒抗体的个体血清中也含有大量与该序列内一种或几种合成肽发生反应的抗体。此外，针对这些简单肽段的人抗体在传染性单核细胞增多症病程早期被特异性诱导产生。与正常对照组相比，类风湿性关节炎和进行性系统性硬化症患者针对甘氨酸-丙氨酸肽段的抗体水平显著升高，但另外两种自身免疫性疾病患者的抗体水平并未升高。这些结果表明：i）针对肽段的抗体可检测到EBNA蛋白；ii）感染EBV的人类会产生高滴度的与这些合成抗原发生反应的抗体；iii）在某些自身免疫性疾病中，针对肽段的抗体滴度异常升高。
