The major internal protein, p27, of a retrovirus-like particle participates in immune complex formation in psoriasis

Abstract

The major internal protein, p27, of a retrovirus-like particle isolated from the urine of a patient with psoriasis has been purified and used in an indirect ELISA to detect human antibodies against the virus antigen. Rabbit anti-p27 antiserum has been applied to detect p27 antigen present in clinical specimens. p27 and anti-p27 antibodies have been demonstrated in extracts from psoriatic scales. Insignificant amounts of free anti-p27 antibodies are present in serum, but both p27 and anti-p27 antibodies have been detected in circulating immune complexes obtained from serum or synovial fluid from patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Rabbit antibodies against the major internal protein of a retrovirus-like particle bind to epidermal cells in psoriatic skin

“…Previously we have described retrovirus-like particles isolated from psoriatic patients (2,7,8,10) and suggested a possible role of these particles in the pathogenesis of psoriasis (9,11). In this work we demonstrate the expression of the major internal protein, p27, of the psoriasis associated retrovirus-like particles in epithelial cells in psoriatic skin.…”

“…ULLMA~ et al suggested that this might be deposits of circulating immune complexes (13). We have recently demonstrated that anti-p27 serum reacts with antigens in circulating immune complexes from patients with psoriasis (11). However, the vascular fluorescence obtained with the anti-p 27 serum might be explained not only by deposits of circulating immune complexes, but also by a local expression of p 27 antigen in the epithelial cells of the vessel wall.…”

“…We have recently described the presence of p27 antigen and anti-p27 antibodies in psoriatic scale and suggested a possible role of this immune complex in the inflammatory reaction in psoriatic plaques (11). Several investigators have foensed on immune reactions in the dermoepidermal junction and in the papillae as a possible initiating event in the development of the inflammatory reaction (13).…”

Effects of Cascade Apheresis in Patients with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthropathy

“…We have shown earlier [20,21] that the 27-kD antigen pso p27 is present in CIC (free and unbound to a small extent) in serum of patients with psoriatic arthritis. Cascade apheresis as employed in this study is obviously capable of removing CIC from plasma as an early-onset effect, as the plasma levels immediately after processing 3 liters of plasma were significantly reduced.…”

Human RNA “Rumor” Viruses: the Search for Novel Human Retroviruses in Chronic Disease

“…RVLPs have been observed in tissue biopsies, in derived cell lines, and in patient urine by EM (110,230). A putative retroviral antigen designated pso-p27 was purified from these particles (231), and antibodies to pso-p27 were detected in patients (232). More recently, HERV-E RNA and Env proteins were found in psoriatic lesions (43,336), and antibodies that were reactive with MLV Gag and Env in patient sera have been described (335).…”