Identifying a New Autoantigen in Behçet's Disease
Author Information
Author(s): Delunardo Federica, Conti Fabrizio, Margutti Paola, Alessandri Cristiano, Priori Roberta, Siracusano Alessandra, Riganò Rachele, Profumo Elisabetta, Valesini Guido, Sorice Maurizio, Ortona Elena
Primary Institution: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
Hypothesis
Can specific autoantibodies in patients with Behçet's disease be identified and evaluated for their diagnostic value?
Conclusion
Sip1 C-ter is a novel autoantigen in Behçet's disease, and IgM specific to it may serve as a useful immunological marker of endothelial dysfunction in vasculitis.
Supporting Evidence
- IgM immunoreactivity to Sip1 C-ter was significantly higher in patients with Behçet's disease than in other groups.
- 20% of patients with Behçet's disease had detectable IgG specific to Sip1 C-ter.
- 41% of patients with Behçet's disease had detectable IgM specific to Sip1 C-ter.
- Correlation was found between serum IgM anti Sip-1 C-ter and soluble E-selectin levels.
Takeaway
Doctors found a new protein that people with Behçet's disease make antibodies against, which could help them diagnose the disease better.
Methodology
The study involved screening a cDNA library from human microvascular endothelial cells with serum IgG from patients with Behçet's disease and measuring specific antibodies using ELISA.
Limitations
The study did not find significant associations between anti-Sip1 C-ter antibodies and clinical manifestations of Behçet's disease.
Participant Demographics
56 patients with Behçet's disease (39 men, 17 women; mean age 37.7 years)
Statistical Information
P-Value
< 10-4
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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