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Thyroid. 2004 Nov;14(11):964-6.
Homologies between proteins of Borrelia burgdorferi and thyroid autoantigens.
Benvenga S, Guarneri F, Vaccaro M, Santarpia L, Trimarchi F.
Sezione di Endocrinologia del Dipartimento Clinico Sperimentale di Medicina e
Farmacologia, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy. s.benvenga@me.nettuno.it
Abstract
Subclinical exposure to microbic antigens that share amino acid sequence homology
with self antigens might trigger autoimmune diseases in genetically predisposed
individuals via molecular mimicry. Genetic predisposition to Graves' disease (GD) or
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is conferred by HLA loci DR3 or DR5, respectively. Yersinia
enterocolitica (YE) outer proteins (YOPs) are candidate triggers based on the high
prevalence of serum antibodies (Ab) against YOPs in autoimmune thyroid diseases
(AITD) and reactivity of these Ab with hTSH-R, suggesting homology between YOPs
and hTSH-R. We have reported previously that the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb)
could be another trigger. Residues 112-205, 127-150, 141-260, 299-383 and 620-697 of
hTSH-R matched outer surface protein A, flagellar motor rotation protein A, two
hypothetical proteins (BBG02 and BBJ08) and DNA recombinase/ATP dependent
helicase of Borrelia (identity 27-50%, similarity 40-75%). Our data strengthen the
hypothesis of Bb and YE as environmental triggers of AITD in genetically predisposed
persons through molecular mimicry mechanisms.