Purpose: HLA class II, p-36 protein, heat shock protein and retinal antigens have been associated with pars planitis (PP), but their participation in the development of the disease are unknown. A search for new molecules related to PP is necessary. This work focused on the identification of peptides recognized by PP patient sera using the phage display method.
Methods: Sera of PP patients were used to isolate peptides fused to M13-phage pIII protein. The response of PP and healthy sera to peptides was determined by ELISA. PCR amplification and sequencing of peptide-encoding fragments from clones with high recognition by PP sera were used to characterize displayed peptides.
Results: One hundred clones were randomly selected from a phage display library after three panning rounds using serum proteins from a PP patient. The immunologic response level of 100 clones selected were determined with a major number of patients, it was found that one clone was recognized stronger in PP patients sera than in healthy sera (PP vs. healthy; P < 0.05). The peptide-encoding region of this clone was sequenced and translated. The peptide sequence corresponded to HSEAETGPP. An identical amino acid sequence to HSEAETGPP is found in the human proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 which has not been related with eye diseases.
Conclusion: These results suggest that the peptide HSEAETGPP is associated with PP.