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International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2020Autoantibodies encountered in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases bear clinical significance as a biomarker to help or predict diagnosis, clinical phenotypes,... (Review)
Review
Autoantibodies encountered in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases bear clinical significance as a biomarker to help or predict diagnosis, clinical phenotypes, prognosis, and treatment decision-making. Furthermore, evidence has accumulated regarding the active involvement of disease-specific or disease-associated autoantibodies in the pathogenic process beyond simple association with the disease, and such knowledge has become essential for us to better understand the clinical value of autoantibodies as a biomarker. This review will focus on the current update on the autoantibodies of four rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, myositis, systemic sclerosis, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis) where there has been a tremendous progress in our understanding on their biological effects and clinical use.
Topics: Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; Autoantibodies; Biomarkers; Humans; Rheumatic Diseases
PubMed: 32085664
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041382 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease. Although the pathomechanism of BP onset has yet to be elucidated in detail, BP... (Review)
Review
Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease. Although the pathomechanism of BP onset has yet to be elucidated in detail, BP autoantibodies targeting two hemidesmosomal components, BP180 and BP230, are known to play a pivotal role in BP pathogenesis. Thus, the detection and measurement of BP autoantibodies are necessary for diagnosing BP and monitoring the disease activity. Immune assays such as immunofluorescence microscopy, immunoblotting, and ELISAs using BP180 and BP230 detect BP autoantibodies in most BP cases with high specificity; however, BP autoantibodies are sometimes detected in BP patients before the onset of this disease. BP autoantibodies that are detected in patients without typical tense blisters are defined as "preclinical BP autoantibodies". These preclinical BP autoantibodies are detected even in a low percentage of normal healthy individuals. Although the importance of preclinical BP autoantibodies remains elusive, these autoantibodies might be a potential risk factor for subsequent BP development. Therefore, previous comparative epidemiological studies have focused on the prevalence of preclinical BP autoantibodies in populations susceptible to BP (e.g., the elderly) or in diseases with a higher risk of comorbid BP. This mini-review summarizes the literature on the prevalence of preclinical BP autoantibodies in patients with various conditions and diseases, and we discuss the significance of preclinical BP autoantibody detection.
Topics: Aged; Autoantibodies; Autoantigens; Humans; Immunoblotting; Non-Fibrillar Collagens; Pemphigoid, Bullous
PubMed: 36003369
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.963401 -
British Journal of Biomedical Science 2023Autoimmune blistering diseases (AIBD) comprise a heterogeneous group of uncommon disorders of the skin and mucous membranes, characterised by antibodies targeting... (Review)
Review
Autoimmune blistering diseases (AIBD) comprise a heterogeneous group of uncommon disorders of the skin and mucous membranes, characterised by antibodies targeting structural proteins within epithelial tissue and the underlying basement membrane. There can be significant overlap in clinical presentation of these diseases and accurate diagnosis relies on the detection and characterisation of relevant autoantibodies. Immunofluorescence provides the gold-standard diagnostic tool for these diseases, identifying both tissue-bound autoantibodies in biopsy material using direct immunofluorescence and circulating antibodies in serum through indirect immunofluorescence. Following advances in the identification and subsequent characterisation of numerous antigenic targets in these diseases, the development of antigen-specific tests, in particular, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays on serum specimens, has provided a third key tool to not only identify, but also quantify AIBD autoantibodies. This quantification has proven particularly useful in monitoring disease activity and informing clinical management decisions. Accurate diagnosis of these diseases is important since optimal treatment strategies differ between them and, prognostically, some diagnoses are associated with an increased risk of malignancy. This review outlines the molecular pathology underlying the major AIBD and describes how the three principal techniques can be used in combination, to provide best practice for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
Topics: Humans; Autoimmune Diseases; Blister; Autoantibodies; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
PubMed: 38074463
DOI: 10.3389/bjbs.2023.11809 -
Cell Mar 2022The function and antigen-specificities of tumor-infiltrating B cells are mostly unknown. In a new study by Mazor et al., matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14), a...
The function and antigen-specificities of tumor-infiltrating B cells are mostly unknown. In a new study by Mazor et al., matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14), a self-antigen that is overexpressed by ovarian cancers, is shown to drive B cell activation and autoantibody production in tertiary lymphoid structures (Mazor et al., 2022).
Topics: Autoantibodies; Autoantigens; B-Lymphocytes; Female; Humans; Ovarian Neoplasms
PubMed: 35364029
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.006 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023The Danger Model predicts that there are some molecules that no immune system can ever be fully tolerant of, namely proteins that are only transiently expressed during...
The Danger Model predicts that there are some molecules that no immune system can ever be fully tolerant of, namely proteins that are only transiently expressed during times of stress, infection, or injury. Among these are the danger/alarm signals themselves. Accordingly, a fleeting autoantibody response to danger signals is expected during times when they are released. Depending on context, these autoantibodies may serve beneficial "housekeeping" functions by removing surplus danger signals from the circulation or, conversely, create an immunodeficiency. Here, we will focus on the Type 1 Interferons as examples of foreseeable targets for a transient autoantibody response, but the principles outlined should hold for other danger-associated molecules as well.
Topics: Immune System; Autoantibodies; Interferon Type I
PubMed: 36742299
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1046300 -
The Journal of Experimental Medicine Dec 2020Talaromyces marneffei causes life-threatening opportunistic infections, mainly in Southeast Asia and South China. T. marneffei mainly infects patients with human...
Talaromyces marneffei causes life-threatening opportunistic infections, mainly in Southeast Asia and South China. T. marneffei mainly infects patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but also infects individuals without known immunosuppression. Here we investigated the involvement of anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies in severe T. marneffei infections in HIV-negative patients. We enrolled 58 HIV-negative adults with severe T. marneffei infections who were otherwise healthy. We found a high prevalence of neutralizing anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies (94.8%) in this cohort. The presence of anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies was strongly associated with HLA-DRB1*16:02 and -DQB1*05:02 alleles in these patients. We demonstrated that adult-onset acquired immunodeficiency due to autoantibodies against IFN-γ is the major cause of severe T. marneffei infections in HIV-negative patients in regions where this fungus is endemic. The high prevalence of anti-IFN-γ autoantibody-associated HLA class II DRB1*16:02 and DQB1*05:02 alleles may account for severe T. marneffei infections in Southeast Asia. Our findings clarify the pathogenesis of T. marneffei infection and pave the way for developing novel treatments.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Alleles; Autoantibodies; Case-Control Studies; Female; HLA-DRB1 Chains; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Male; Middle Aged; Mycoses; Talaromyces; Young Adult
PubMed: 32880631
DOI: 10.1084/jem.20190502 -
Distinct HLA associations with autoantibody-defined subgroups in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.EBioMedicine Oct 2023In patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), autoantibodies are associated with specific clinical phenotypes suggesting a pathogenic role of adaptive...
BACKGROUND
In patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), autoantibodies are associated with specific clinical phenotypes suggesting a pathogenic role of adaptive immunity. We explored if autoantibody profiles are associated with specific HLA genetic variants and clinical manifestations in IIM.
METHODS
We included 1348 IIM patients and determined the occurrence of 14 myositis-specific or -associated autoantibodies. We used unsupervised cluster analysis to identify autoantibody-defined subgroups and logistic regression to estimate associations with clinical manifestations, HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1 alleles, and amino acids imputed from genetic information of HLA class II and I molecules.
FINDINGS
We identified eight subgroups with the following dominant autoantibodies: anti-Ro52, -U1RNP, -PM/Scl, -Mi2, -Jo1, -Jo1/Ro52, -TIF1γ or negative for all analysed autoantibodies. Associations with HLA-DRB1∗11, HLA-DRB1∗15, HLA-DQA1∗03, and HLA-DQB1∗03 were present in the anti-U1RNP-dominated subgroup. HLA-DRB1∗03, HLA-DQA1∗05, and HLA-DQB1∗02 alleles were overrepresented in the anti-PM/Scl and anti-Jo1/Ro52-dominated subgroups. HLA-DRB1∗16, HLA-DRB1∗07 alleles were most frequent in anti-Mi2 and HLA-DRB1∗01 and HLA-DRB1∗07 alleles in the anti-TIF1γ subgroup. The HLA-DRB1∗13, HLA-DQA1∗01 and HLA-DQB1∗06 alleles were overrepresented in the negative subgroup. Significant signals from variations in class I molecules were detected in the subgroups dominated by anti-Mi2, anti-Jo1/Ro52, anti-TIF1γ, and the negative subgroup.
INTERPRETATION
Distinct HLA class II and I associations were observed for almost all autoantibody-defined subgroups. The associations support autoantibody profiles use for classifying IIM which would likely reflect underlying pathogenic mechanisms better than classifications based on clinical symptoms and/or histopathological features.
FUNDING
See a detailed list of funding bodies in the Acknowledgements section at the end of the manuscript.
Topics: Humans; Alleles; Autoantibodies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Haplotypes; HLA-DRB1 Chains; Myositis; Phenotype
PubMed: 37769433
DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104804 -
Current Cardiology Reports Nov 2020The role of autoantibodies in arrhythmogenesis has been the subject of research in recent times. This review focuses on the rapidly expanding field of... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
The role of autoantibodies in arrhythmogenesis has been the subject of research in recent times. This review focuses on the rapidly expanding field of autoantibody-mediated cardiac arrhythmias.
RECENT FINDINGS
Since the discovery of cardiac autoantibodies more than three decades ago, a great deal of effort has been devoted to understanding their contribution to arrhythmias. Different cardiac receptors and ion channels were identified as targets for autoantibodies, the binding of which either initiates a signaling cascade or serves as a biomarker of underlying remodeling process. Consequently, the wide spectrum of heart rhythm disturbances may emerge, ranging from atrial to ventricular arrhythmias as well as conduction diseases, irrespective of concomitant structural heart disease or manifest autoimmune disorder. The time has come to acknowledge autoimmune cardiac arrhythmias as a distinct disease entity. Establishing the autoantibody profile of patients will help to develop novel treatment approaches for patients.
Topics: Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Autoantibodies; Autoimmune Diseases; Heart Conduction System; Humans; Ion Channels
PubMed: 33241446
DOI: 10.1007/s11886-020-01430-x -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021Dating to the discovery of the Lupus Erythematosus (LE) cell in 1948, there has been a dramatic growth in the discovery of unique autoantibodies and their cognate... (Review)
Review
Dating to the discovery of the Lupus Erythematosus (LE) cell in 1948, there has been a dramatic growth in the discovery of unique autoantibodies and their cognate targets, all of which has led to the availability and use of autoantibody testing for a broad spectrum of autoimmune diseases. Most studies of the sensitivity, specificity, commutability, and harmonization of autoantibody testing have focused on widely available, commercially developed and agency-certified autoantibody kits. However, this is only a small part of the spectrum of autoantibody tests that are provided through laboratories world-wide. This manuscript will review the wider spectrum of testing by exploring the innovation pathway that begins with autoantibody discovery followed by assessment of clinical relevance, accuracy, validation, and then consideration of regulatory requirements as an approved diagnostic test. Some tests are offered as "Research Use Only (RUO)", some as "Laboratory Developed Tests (LDT)", some enter Health Technology Assessment (HTA) pathways, while others are relegated to a "death valley" of autoantibody discovery and become "orphan" autoantibodies. Those that achieve regulatory approval are further threatened by the business world's "Darwinian Sea of Survival". As one example of the trappings of autoantibody progression or failure, it is reported that more than 200 different autoantibodies have been described in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a small handful (~10%) of these have achieved regulatory approval and are widely available as commercial diagnostic kits, while a few others may be available as RUO or LDT assays. However, the vast majority (90%) are orphaned and languish in an autoantibody 'death valley'. This review proposes that it is important to keep an inventory of these "orphan autoantibodies" in 'death valley' because, with the increasing availability of multi-analyte arrays and artificial intelligence (MAAI), some can be rescued to achieve a useful role in clinical diagnostic especially in light of patient stratification and precision medicine.
Topics: Autoantibodies; Autoimmune Diseases; Biomarkers; Diagnostic Test Approval; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Immunoassay; Translational Research, Biomedical
PubMed: 34122443
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.679613 -
Virology Journal Oct 2023Interest in complications and sequelae following Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasing. Several articles have reported COVID-19-associated autoimmune...
BACKGROUND
Interest in complications and sequelae following Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasing. Several articles have reported COVID-19-associated autoimmune diseases and the association between autoantibodies and the severity of COVID-19. Thromboembolic complications are frequent in patients with COVID-19, and the anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) is frequently detected. We conducted this study to investigate the prevalence, clinical significance, and persistence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and aPLs in COVID-19.
METHODS
We enrolled patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with oxygen demand and admitted to a tertiary hospital in South Korea between July 2020 and March 2022. ANA and aPLs levels were assessed using an immunoassay kit.
RESULTS
A total of 248 patients were enrolled in the study. Among them, five patients were ANA-positive, and 41 were aPL-positive (IgM anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibody in seven patients, IgG aCL in seven patients, IgM anti-β2Glycoprotein1 antibody (aβ2-GPI) in 32 patients, and IgG aβ2-GPI in one patient). Two of five ANA-positive patients, 13 of 32 IgM aβ2-GPI-positive patients, 5 of 7 IgM aCL-positive patients, and 2 of 7 IgG aCL-positive patients were eligible for follow-up analysis, and 100%, 69.2%, 40%, and 50% of the patients remained autoantibody-positive, respectively. There were no differences in clinical outcomes between the autoantibody-positive and autoantibody-negative groups, except for the IgG aCL group showing a tendency for worse outcomes.
CONCLUSION
A significant proportion of COVID-19 patients with oxygen demand were autoantibody-positive, and autoantibodies persisted for several months after symptom onset. Whether these autoantibodies are related to long-term sequelae in COVID-19 patients requires further investigation.
Topics: Humans; Autoantibodies; Prevalence; Clinical Relevance; beta 2-Glycoprotein I; Immunoglobulin G; COVID-19; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; Immunoglobulin M; Oxygen
PubMed: 37845706
DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02191-z