Autoantibodies to creatine kinase in rabbits infected with Treponema pallidum
Strugnell, R.A.; Williams, W.F.; Raines, G.; Pedersen, J.S.; Drummond, L.P.; Toh, B.H.; Faine, S.
Journal of Immunology 136(2): 667-671
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 3510250 Document Number: 276908
Sera from rabbits infected intratesticularly with Treponema pallidum (Nichols) for 30 days were examined for autoantibody reactivity against muscle and testis extracts by Western immunblotting. Syphilitic sera (30 day) reacted with an autoantigen of 43,000 daltons in muscle extracts. The antigen was shown to be creatine kinase (CK). Studies with the use of an anti-CK ELISA showed that the autoantibody to CK first appeared 3 wk after infection, declined by 7 wk infection, and was absent in rabbits "mock"-infected with heat-killed. T. pallidum. CK activity was not detected in sonicated or intact, washed T. pallidum, suggesting that the antibody was not produced in response to treponemal CK.