Abstract Details

Title Tobacco Mosaic Virus Antibodies Are Present in Serum of Smokers and Non-Smokers

Topic Global Health

Presentation(s) P04 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 240

Objective

Background BACKGROUND: TMV, a worldwide infectious agent, is found in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco as well as many other plants. Plant viruses do not replicate or cause infection in human and other mammals. However, pepper mild mottle plant virus is associated with specific immune responses in human and cowpea mosaic virus is able to interact with mammalian cells after oral administration. People who smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products experience a lower risk of developing PD, but the mechanism by which this occurs is unclear.

Design/Methods DESIGN/METHODS: 60 male healthy volunteers were recruited in this study: 20 non-users of tobacco products, 20 current smokers, and 20 current users of smokeless tobacco. Using a sandwich ELISA assay, serum anti-TMV antibodies and the cross-reactivity between anti-TMV antibody and the human mitochondrial membrane protein TOMM40L were measured.

Results RESULTS: We detected antibodies against TMV in serum of all healthy smokers as well as non-smokers. Smokers had a significantly higher level of serum IgG (IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4) antibodies against TMV than non-smokers, while smokeless tobacco users showed a trend toward increased levels of anti-TMV IgG (IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4) when compared to non-smokers. Furthermore, we found that a human protein TOMM40L (an outer mitochondrial membrane 40 homolog -like translocase) contains a strong homology of six contiguous amino acid to the TMV coat protein and the TOMM40L peptide exhibited cross-reactivity with anti-TMV antibodies.

Conclusions CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that molecular mimicry between the foreign plant antigens of TMV and the human TOMM40L protein may have a potential role in pathogenesis of human disorders including PD.

Authors/Disclosures
PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Robert P. Friedland, MD, FAAN (University of Louisville)	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file

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