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Significance Amidated hypocretin peptides (HCRTNH2) are autoantigens in narcolepsy type 1, an autoimmune disorder targeting HCRT neurons. The autoimmune process can be initiated by exposure to the influenza A flu,… Click to show full abstract
Significance Amidated hypocretin peptides (HCRTNH2) are autoantigens in narcolepsy type 1, an autoimmune disorder targeting HCRT neurons. The autoimmune process can be initiated by exposure to the influenza A flu, and a particular piece of the hemagglutinin (HA) of the pandemic 2009 H1N1 strain, as well as a piece of the nucleoprotein segment, were identified as particularly reactive in narcolepsy patients. One hypothesis has been that T cells reactive to these flu segments can also react to HCRT, starting the autoimmune process through molecular mimicry. Although we replicated the finding of a higher number of T cells reactive to HA and HCRT, we could not find evidence for cross-reactivity. More work is needed to explain how the flu can trigger narcolepsy.
Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Year Published: 2022
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