Collagen autoantibodies in patients with vasculitis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
In order to determine whether collagen autoantibodies are present in sera from patients with vascular diseases, a highly sensitive solid-phase radioimmunoassay was utilized to evaluate the presence of antibodies against collagen types I to VI and laminin in sera of 20 patients with vasculitis and 20 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Autoantibodies to interstitial collagen types I and II were noted in 20 and 35% of the patients, respectively. Most significantly, 70% of the polyarteritis nodosa patients and 55% of the total vasculitis group had autoantibodies to collagen type IV. In SLE, autoantibodies to collagen type V were detected in 70% and to collagen type IV in 85% of the patient sera. These data indicate that basement membrane and basement membrane-associated collagens may become immunogenic in patients with vasculitis and SLE. The role of these autoantibodies is most likely a result of endothelial damage secondary to the initial inflammatory disease process. However, it can be concluded from the present studies that collagen types IV and V are involved in the immune response and thereby may perpetuate further vascular damage.
Moreland
L W
LW
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
Gay
R E
RE
Gay
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S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003094:Collagen / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007797:Laminin; D003094:Collagen