Rheumatoid factor, anti-heat shock protein (65 kDa) antibodies and anti-nuclear antibodies in equine joint diseases.
To consider the hypothesis that autoimmune mechanisms may contribute to the pathology of equine joint diseases, 3 autoimmune responses were assayed in sera and synovial fluids. IgM-rheumatoid factor and antibodies to heat shock protein 65 kDa were determined by ELISA; anti-nuclear antibodies were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence to whole cell nuclear components. All parameters showed only modest increases, if any and not in a pattern related to disease, although some statistically significant increases were detected. Group analysis showed significantly elevated synovial fluid IgM-rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) in horses with OA (P < 0.01), traumatised joints (P < 0.01) and articular fractured bones (P < 0.001). There was no significantly increased IgM-RF in the sera of horses with joint disorders compared to control horses. Significantly raised anti-heat shock protein molecular weight 65 kDa (HSP65) antibodies were only found in the synovial fluids of the horses with traumatised joints (P < 0.001). No correlations were found between the synovial fluid and sera levels of IgM-RF or anti-HSP65 antibodies. Synovial fluid anti-HSP65 antibody and IgM-RF levels positively correlated in the OCD (P < 0.001), fracture (P < 0.01) and synovitis (P < 0.05) groups. As antibodies to HSP65 correlated with IgG concentrations in synovial fluids, it is not possible to draw conclusions on HSP roles in joint disease pathogenesis. No serum anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) were detected by immunofluorescence using rat liver and a human epithelial cell line (HEp-2) as substrates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, UK.
S D
SD
Carter
A C
AC
Osborne
S A
SA
May
D
D
Bennett
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D018833:Chaperonins / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000276:immunology
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C074119:heat-shock protein 65, Mycobacterium; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D018833:Chaperonins