BTN1A1
Encyclopedia
Butyrophilin subfamily 1 member A1 is a protein
that in humans is encoded by the BTN1A1 gene
.
(MOG) to spur the immune system to attack myelin in a process known as molecular or epitopic mimicy. This suggests that ingestion of butyrophilin in dairy products from cows and goats may be a potential trigger for multiple sclerosis
. Independent studies by a group in Germany have reached similar conclusions.
Interestingly, the German group have used heavy doses of butyrophilin on mice with an experimental model for multiple sclerosis called EAE
. They have found that this strategy, called immune tolerance, reduces the effects of the disease.
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
that in humans is encoded by the BTN1A1 gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
.
Function
Btn1a1 regulates the amount of lipids and size of droplets expressed in milk. When the gene is compromised in laboratory mice, approximately half the pups died within the first 20 days and the remainder were significantly under-weight.Link to Multiple Sclerosis
Butyrophilin has been presented as a potential antigen which may be similar enough to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproteinMyelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein
Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein ' is a glycoprotein believed to be important in the process of myelinization of nerves in the central nervous system . In humans this protein is encoded by the MOG gene...
(MOG) to spur the immune system to attack myelin in a process known as molecular or epitopic mimicy. This suggests that ingestion of butyrophilin in dairy products from cows and goats may be a potential trigger for multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
. Independent studies by a group in Germany have reached similar conclusions.
Interestingly, the German group have used heavy doses of butyrophilin on mice with an experimental model for multiple sclerosis called EAE
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, sometimes Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis is an animal model of brain inflammation. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system...
. They have found that this strategy, called immune tolerance, reduces the effects of the disease.