Myelin protein Po as a potential autoantigen in autoimmune inner ear disease

Abstract

We have previously shown that a 30,000 M r protein extracted from guinea pig inner ear tissue is recognized by autoantibodies present in the serum of patients suffering from autoimmune inner ear disease. This protein was localized in the modiolus and in the organ of Corti. We have now identified this protein by a combination of micro‐sequencing and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry of its tryptic peptides. A partial sequence of the protein was thereby determined. These data and 2‐dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblot‐ ting experiments showed that the 30,000 M r inner ear antigen is the major peripheral myelin protein Po. This suggests that protein Po may be an important autoantigen in autoimmune inner ear disease.—Cao, M. Y., Dupriez, V. J., Rider, M. H., Deggouj, N., Gersdorff, M. C. H., Rousseau, G. G., Tomasi, J.‐P. Myelin protein Po as a potential autoantigen in autoimmune inner ear disease. FASEB J. 10, 1635‐1640(1996)