Structural differences between HLA-DQ molecules associated with myasthenia gravis characterized by molecular modeling

J Neuroimmunol. 1998 May 1;85(1):102-5. doi: 10.1016/s0165-5728(97)00266-x.

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is characterized by muscle weakness due to autoimmunity against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). MG is associated with polymorphisms in HLA-DQ genes and the aim of the present study was to characterize structural differences in the peptide binding groove of HLA-DQ molecules positively and negatively associated with MG. Three dimensional models of the positively associated DQ2 (DQB1*02) and negatively associated DQ6 (DQB1*0603) molecules were constructed by homology modeling techniques. The differences in peptide binding properties were primarily localized to peptide-anchor pockets P7 and P9, which might be of importance for the binding of disease-associated peptides from the nAChR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • HLA-DQ Antigens / analysis*
  • HLA-DQ Antigens / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*

Substances

  • HLA-DQ Antigens
  • HLA-DQ2 antigen
  • HLA-DQ6 antigen