Diversity of PR3-ANCA epitope specificity in Wegener's granulomatosis. Analysis using the biosensor technology.
Wegener's granulomatosis is a systemic disease characterized by the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasm autoantibodies specific for proteinase 3 (PR3-ANCA). The functional characteristics of PR3-ANCA differ between quiescent and active disease, suggesting changes in the properties of the autoantibodies in time. Using biosensor technology, we found that PR3-ANCA of different patients (n = 8) recognize a limited number of overlapping regions on PR3 at the time of diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis. This area might cover an immunodominant epitope, common for PR3-ANCA from all patients, irrespective of the size of the total area recognized by an individual autoantibody. Experiments with sera (n = 4) collected at the moment of diagnosis and at the time of relapse showed that the individual epitope specificities of PR3-ANCA change during the course of the disease. These changes in epitope specificity of PR3-ANCA may be responsible for the differences in functional properties of these autoantibodies between various stages of the disease.
Rarok
Agnieszka A
AA
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
van der Geld
Ymke M
YM
Stegeman
Coen A
CA
Limburg
Pieter C
PC
Kallenberg
Cees G M
CG
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D053146:Myeloblastin; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053146:Myeloblastin