Isotype switching and titer variation of anti-Ro/SSA antibodies over time in 100 patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD).

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To correlate the clinical course of the disease with the titer, the isotype profile and the switch of the anti-Ro/SSA antibodies in a cohort of patients affected by UCTD.

METHODS:

One hundred selected patients with anti-Ro/SSA antibodies detected by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), and affected by UCTD with a mean follow-up of 7.6 years (SD 4.8 yrs.), were studied. The titer of IgA, IgG and IgM anti-Ro/SSA antibodies was determined in two different sera, obtained at the time of diagnosis and at the last visit, by ELISA with Ro/SSA recombinant proteins as substrate.

RESULTS:

Thirty-five patients evolved from UCTD to a different connective tissue disease, while 65 showed a stable disease. Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies were detected in 91% and 97% of the patients, at baseline and during follow-up, respectively. IgG dominates the anti-Ro response. The titer of IgA, IgM and IgG anti-Ro/SSA did not differ significantly between the two groups of patients with UCTD. An increasing trend of IgG and IgA anti-Ro/SSA titer could be detected in patients evolving in primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS), but only the increase of IgG anti-Ro/SSA was significant (p=0.0235).

CONCLUSION:

IgG dominates the anti-Ro/SSA response in patients with UCTD. No substantial change of the antibody isotype against Ro/SSA peptides could be observed during follow-up. The titer of IgG anti-Ro/SSA significantly raised in the group of patients evolving in pSS.

• Authors: A Ceribelli, I Cavazzana, F Franceschini, M Quinzanini, F Lodi Rizzini, R Cattaneo
• Journal: Clinical and experimental rheumatology (Clin Exp Rheumatol) 2008 Jan-Feb Vol. 26 Issue 1 Pg. 117-20 ISSN: 0392-856X [Print] Italy
• PMID: 18328157 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Autoantigens
• Immunoglobulin A
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin M
• RNA, Small Cytoplasmic
• RO60 protein, human
• Ribonucleoproteins

Topics

• Autoantibodies (analysis)
• Autoantigens (immunology)
• Connective Tissue Diseases (immunology)
• Counterimmunoelectrophoresis
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin A (analysis)
• Immunoglobulin Class Switching (immunology)
• Immunoglobulin G (analysis)
• Immunoglobulin M (analysis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• RNA, Small Cytoplasmic (immunology)
• Ribonucleoproteins (immunology)
• Sjogren's Syndrome (immunology)