Anti-70 kD Heat Shock Protein Autoantibodies in Patients with Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose To report the presence of autoantibodies against the 70 kD heat shock protein in patients with multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS). Methods Sera from two patients with MEWDS were subjected to Western blot analysis using bovine retinal proteins. The detected antigen was identified by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis, in-gel carboxymethylation and digestion, and mass spectrometry. Results A 70 kD bovine retinal antigen was recognized in the MEWDS sera by Western blot analysis. The protein was identified as a 70 kD heat shock protein by mass spectrometry. The MEWDS sera recognized heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70), which are expressed in the retina and are highly homologous with 95% of the amino acid residues identical. Conclusions The sera of the MEWDS patients contain autoantibodies against Hsp70 and Hsc70. This suggests that the anti-70 kD heat shock protein autoantibody is a strong candidate for the cause of MEWDS. Mass spectrometry is a powerful tool to identify autoantigens in patients with possible autoimmune diseases.

Keywords: autoimmune disease • retina • uveitis-clinical/animal model