Prediction of retinol-binding protein 3（RBP3） epitopesin Chinese tree shrew and validation of its uveitogenic activity

Abstract:

Objective：To predict the epitopes of tree shrew retinol-binding protein 3（RBP3） and to validate its uveitogenic activity. Methods：BLAST was utilized to compare the amino acid sequence homology of RBP3 protein with the IRBP of human，Papio Anubis，bovine，rat and mouse by DNAMAN. The antigenic sites of T cell epitopes of RBP3 and their interaction with murine MHC class Ⅱ molecules were analyzed by DNAStar software. The B10.RⅢ mouse was immunized by the predicted RBP3182-192 antigen peptide and T cell proliferation assay was conducted to assess its immunogenicity and pathogenicity. Results：According to DNAMAN alignment analysis，the amino acid homology of the RBP3 protein in tree shrew with the IRBP of human，Papio anubis，bovine，rat and mice was 83.50%，82.81%，82.23%，82.94% and 82.63%，respectively. Our results showed that T cell epitope of the RBP3 protein con－tained 47 potential T cell epitopes and 34 antigen sites that interacted with murine MHC-Ⅱ molecule. Conclusion：Critically，experimental autoimmune uveitis（EAU） in B10.RⅢ mouse and T cell proliferation have also been successfully induced with the predicted RBP3182-192 antigen peptide，suggesting that the predicted T cell epitopes have uveitogenic activities and im－munogenicity.