Analogous amino acid sequences in myelin proteolipid and viral proteins

Shaw, Shyh-Yu; Laursen, Richard A.; Lees, Marjorie B.

Computer analysis of the intrinsic membrane protein, myelin proteolipid, shows strong sequence similarities between the putative extramembrane segments of the proteolipid protein and a number of viral proteins, several of which infect humans. These similarities are even more striking than those reported previously between viral proteins and the encephalitogenic myelin basic protein (MBP). These findings, along with other reports of molecular mimicry by viruses, suggest that immunological cross‐reactions between virus‐induced antibodies or T‐cells and analogous antigenic determinants (epitopes) in myelin proteolipid could be involved in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis or post‐infectious demyelinating syndromes.