Viral myocarditis involves the generation of autoreactive T cells with multiple antigen specificities that localize in lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs in the mouse model of CVB3 infection

Authors

Rakesh H. Basavalingappa, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Rajkumar Arumugam, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Ninaad Lasrado, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Bharathi Yalaka, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hopewell, Pennington, NJFollow
Chandirasegara Massilamany, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Arunakumar Gangaplara, National Institutes of Health, BethesdaFollow
Jean-Jack Riethoven, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Shi-Hua Xiang, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
David Steffen, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Jay Reddy, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2020

Citation

Molecular Immunology 124 (2020) 218–228

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2020.06.017

Comments

U.S. government work

Abstract

Autoreactive T cells may contribute to post-viral myocarditis induced with Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), but the underlying mechanisms of their generation are unclear. Here, we have comprehensively analyzed the generation of antigen-specific, autoreactive T cells in the mouse model of CVB3 infection for antigens implicated in patients with myocarditis/dilated cardiomyopathy. First, comparative analysis of CVB3 proteome with five autoantigens led us to identify three mimicry epitopes, one each from adenine nucleotide translocator 1 (ANT), sarcoplasmic/ endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) and cardiac troponin I. None of these induced cross-reactive T cell responses. Next, we generated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II dextramers to enumerate the frequencies of antigen-specific T cells to determine whether T cells with multiple antigen specificities are generated by CVB3 infection. These analyses revealed appearance of CD4 T cells positive for SERCA2a 971−990, and cardiac myosin heavy chain-α (Myhc) 334−352 dextramers, both in the periphery and also in the hearts of CVB3-infected animals. While ANT 21−40 dextramer+ T cells were inconsistently detected, the β1- adrenergic receptor 181−200/211−230 or branched chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase 111−130 dextramer+ cells were absent. Interestingly, SERCA2a 971−990, Myhc 334−352 and ANT 21−40 dextramer+ cells were also detected in the liver indicating that they may have a pathogenic role. Finally, we demonstrate that the SERCA2a 971−990-reactive T cells generated in CVB3 infection could transfer disease to naïve mice. The data suggest that CVB3 infection can lead to the generation of autoreactive T cells for multiple antigens indicating a possibility that the autoreactive T cells localized in the liver can potentially circulate and contribute to the development of viral myocarditis.