H1N1 hemagglutinin-specific HLA-DQ6-restricted CD4+ T cells can be readily detected in narcolepsy type 1 patients and healthy controls

Following the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, an increased risk of narcolepsy type 1 was observed. Homology between an H1N1 hemagglutinin and two hypocretin sequences has been reported.T cell reactivity to these peptides was assessed in 81 narcolepsy type 1 patients and 19 HLA-DQ6-matched healthy controls.HLA-DQ6-restricted H1N1 hemagglutinin-specific T cell responses were detected in 28.4% of patients and 15.8% of controls. Despite structural homology between HLA-DQ6-hypocretin and -H1N1 peptide complexes, T cell cross-reactivity was not detected.

Source: Journal of Neuroimmunology - April 16, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: M.S. Schinkelshoek, R. Fronczek, E.M.C. Kooy-Winkelaar, J. Petersen, H.H. Reid, A. van der Heide, J.W. Drijfhout, J. Rossjohn, G.J. Lammers, F. Koning Source Type: research