Autoantibodies in Estonia and Sweden, populations with different responses to allergens.
BACKGROUND
There are substantial differences in immune-mediated disease prevalence between different countries and populations which cannot be explained by genetic variability.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of antinuclear (ANA), antimitochondrial, antireticulin, liver-kidney microsomal, parietal cell, thyroid microsomal and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies among adults aged 20-44 years in two towns, i.e. in Tartu, Estonia (n = 448) and in Uppsala, Sweden (n = 532) with a low and a high prevalence of allergy.


METHODS
For autoantibody detection, standard indirect immunofluorescence tests on tissue and Chritidia lucilia antigenic preparations were used (sera were diluted starting from 1:10).


RESULTS
The prevalence of ANA was lower in Tartu than in Uppsala (3 vs. 10% among males and 11 vs. 16% among females; p<0.01 and p<0.1, respectively). Furthermore, dsDNA antibody-positive cases were only identified in Uppsala. The largest difference between the two populations was revealed for IgM type ANA, both among males (1 vs. 6%; p<0.02) and females (5 vs. 11%; p<0.01). In addition, the antibody titers were lower in Tartu than in Uppsala (p<0.05). The prevalence of other autoantibodies was similar in the two towns.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings could support that Th2-like immune responses are commoner in Sweden than in Estonia, as previously suggested by the higher prevalence of allergy.
Department of Immunology, Institute of General and Molecular Pathology, University of Tartu, Estonia.
R
R
Uibo
I
I
Talja
R
R
Jôgi
C
C
Janson
E
E
Björnsson
G
G
Boman
M
M
Mandel
B
B
Björkstén
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D004957:Estonia; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000276:immunology; D010295:Parietal Cells, Gastric / Q000276:immunology; D011153:Population; D015995:Prevalence; D012155:Reticulin / Q000276:immunology; D013548:Sweden; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012155:Reticulin