Anti-endothelial cell autoantibodies and soluble markers of endothelial cell dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) and plasma markers of endothelial cell function are related to disease severity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
We measured AECA by human umbilical vein endothelial cell binding, endothelial markers von Willebrand factor, soluble thrombomodulin, and soluble E-selectin by ELISA, and disease severity by SLEDAI and SLICC/ACR in 35 patients with SLE.


RESULTS
Despite high levels of IgG AECA (p = 0.001) and von Willebrand factor (p = 0.0007) compared to 21 healthy controls, we found a positive correlation only between IgG AECA and the SLEDAI index (r = 0.393, p = 0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
IgG AECA seem to be related to disease activity in SLE, possibly in a pathogenic role. Conversely, plasma markers of endothelial cell damage seem to be an epiphenomenon and may simply be related to excess inflammation.
Constans
Joel
J
Service de Médecine Interne et Pathologie Vasculaire, Hôpital Saint-André, 1 rue Jean Burguet, 33075 Bordeaux, France. joel.constans@chu-bordeaux.fr
Dupuy
Remy
R
Blann
Andrew D
AD
Resplandy
Francois
F
Seigneur
Martine
M
Renard
Martine
M
Longy-Boursier
Maïte
M
Schaeverbeke
Thierry
T
Guérin
Viviane
V
Boisseau
Michel R
MR
Conri
Claude
C
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012995:Solubility; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D019040:E-Selectin; D018180:Thrombomodulin; D014841:von Willebrand Factor