Autoantibodies to pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in patients with systemic sclerosis. Possible role of anti-E1 alpha antibody as a serologic indicator for development of primary biliary cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (anti-PDC) antibodies in systemic sclerosis (SSc).


METHODS
Serum samples from patients with limited cutaneous SSc (n = 81) or diffuse cutaneous SSc (n = 63) were examined for anti-PDC antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting.


RESULTS
IgG- and/or IgM-isotype anti-PDC antibodies were demonstrated by ELISA in 26 of 144 patients with SSc (18%). By immunoblotting, 19 patients had IgG anti-PDC antibodies. Among these patients with IgG anti-PDC antibodies, antibody to the E1 alpha subunit was significantly associated with the presence of laboratory abnormalities typical of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).


CONCLUSIONS
Antibody to the E1 alpha subunit of PDC may be a serologic indicator for the development of PBC in patients with SSc.
Fujimoto
M
M
University of Tokyo, Japan.
Sato
S
S
Ihn
H
H
Kikuchi
K
K
Tamaki
K
K
Takehara
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex