Identification of immunodominant T cell epitopes of human glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 by using HLA-DR(α1*0101,β1*0401) transgenic mice

Glutamic acid decarboxylase isoform 2 (GAD65; EC 4.1.1.15) has been identified as a key target autoantigen of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). IDDM is genetically associated with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and particular alleles from the HLA-DQ and HLA-DR loci contribute to disease. Among DR4 subtypes, HLA-DRB1*0401, HLA-DRB1*0402, and HLA-DRB1*0405 alleles lend susceptibility, while HLA-DRB1*0403 confers protection. We have utilized HLA-DR(α1*0101,β1*0401) (hereafter referred to as DR0401), human CD4, murine class II null triple transgenic mice and recombinant GAD65 to generate T cell hybridomas, and we have used overlapping sets of peptides to map the immunodominant epitopes of this autoantigen. We have identified 10 immunogenic regions for GAD65, of which 6 are recognized by multiple hybridomas. These epitopes are also generated by human antigen-presenting cells and their presentation is DR0401 restricted, as shown by the use of typed human lymphoblastoid cell lines and antibody blocking experiments. Immunodominant GAD65 epitopes defined in transgenic mice correspond to GAD65 regions previously shown to elicit T cell responses specifically in DR0401 IDDM patients, underscoring the validity of this approach. Interestingly, although the major epitopes contain DR0401 binding motifs, one of the epitopes contains a DR0405 motif.