Diminished cellular immune response to carbonic anhydrase II in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and idiopathic chronic pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND
A serum antibody to carbonic anhydrase II has been reported in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and idiopathic chronic pancreatitis.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cellular immune response to carbonic anhydrase II in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and idiopathic chronic pancreatitis.


METHODS
Idiopathic chronic pancreatitis (n=23), Sjögren's syndrome (n=12), alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (n=3) and normal controls (n=13).


METHODS
Proliferation assay of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.


RESULTS
Notable increased proliferation of the mononuclear cells upon stimulation with carbonic anhydrase II was observed in 2 patients with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis (9%) and 2 patients with Sjögren's syndrome (17%) but not in patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis nor in normal controls. Among the four study groups, there was no significant difference in the prevalence rate of the positive proliferative responses (P=0.444).


CONCLUSIONS
Carbonic anhydrase II may not be a major target antigen for the immunological process in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome and idiopathic chronic pancreatitis. Serum antibody to carbonic anhydrase II may be detected in these patients as a consequence of the immune reaction against other antigens which mimic carbonic anhydrase II.
Nishimori
Isao
I
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kochi Medical School. Nankoku, Kochi, Japan. nisao@med.kochi-u.ac.jp
Miyaji
Eiki
E
Morimoto
Kaori
K
Kohsaki
Takuhiro
T
Okamoto
Nobuto
N
Onishi
Saburo
S
D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D024402:Carbonic Anhydrase II / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology; D018716:Molecular Mimicry / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D024402:Carbonic Anhydrase II