Anti-SSB/La antibodies in Sjögren's syndrome and related autoimmune diseases. Results of a quantitative immunoassay using a highly purified antigen.
A quantitative immunoassay using a highly purified antigen from HeLa cells has allowed us to detect antibodies to SSB/La in 11/20 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), 15/33 with SLE, and 11/35 with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). However, positive results were found in only 2/12 patients with idiopathic Raynaud's disease and 2/20 with rheumatoid arthritis, including 4 with secondary SS. Anti-SSB/La were associated with extraglandular manifestations in primary SS, and with a diffuse sclerodermic pattern in PSS. In SS, SLE and PSS, a positive anti-SSB/La test was strongly associated with nodal or spleen enlargement and with an increased level of gamma-globulins. A direct association was also found with positive tests for rheumatoid factors, anti-SSA/Ro and anti-Scl 70. An inverse relationship was however found with anti-nRNP +/- Sm and anticentromere antibodies. Our data suggest that anti-SSB/La antibodies can be regarded as a marker of B-lymphocyte activation in patients with either primary SS, SLE or PSS.
Montecucco
C
C
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica, Universita' di Pavia, Italy.
Bestagno
M
M
Cerino
A
A
Caporali
R
R
Carnevale
R
R
Longhi
M
M
Pedrini
M A
MA
Astaldi-Ricotti
G C
GC
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; C035357:SS-B antibodies