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Identification of β‐Tubulin Isoform V as an Autoantigen in Allergic Rhinitis by a Proteomic Approach

Autoantibodies to IgE and p2‐adrenergic receptor have been reported in patients with allergic rhinitis. To investigate whether autoimmunity in allergic rhinitis is directed to such limited molecules or directed to a wide range of self proteins, we here attempted to survey autoantigens/autoantibodies comprehensively, using proteomics. Specifically, we separated proteins extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by 2‐dimensional electrophoresis and then detected autoantigens by subsequent western blotting with sera from patients with allergic rhinitis. As a result, we detected multiple autoantigens, some of which were further identified by mass fingerprinting. Next, we confirmed antigenicity of one of the identified autoantigens, β‐tubulin isoform V (β‐tubV), using a recombinant protein and then measured prevalence of the anti‐β‐tubV autoantibodies. As a result, 52% of the tested patients with allergic rhinitis were found to possess anti‐β‐tubV autoantibodies. Our study indicates that autoimmunity is a common phenomena and β‐tubV is one of the major autoantigens in allergic rhinitis.