title: Anti-DNA topoisomerase II alpha autoantibodies in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: The pathogenesis and etiology of systemic sclerosis (SSc) remain unknown, but the presence of several autoantibodies is recognized as one of its prominent features. The clinical significance of anti-DNA topoisomerase II alpha antibody (anti-topo II alpha Ab) remains unknown in Japanese patients with SSc. To determine the prevalence and clinical correlation of anti-topo II alpha Ab in Japanese patients with SSc. Serum samples were obtained from 103 Japanese patients with SSc. Control serum samples were obtained from 43 healthy Japanese volunteers. Anti-topo II alpha Abs were determined by enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay.IgG anti-topo II alpha Ab levels were significantly increased in SSc patients (n=103) compared to normal controls (n=43; P<0.005). IgG or IgM anti-topo II alpha Ab was detected in 19% (20/103) of SSc patients when absorbance values higher than the mean+2SD of control serum samples were considered positive. By contrast, IgG or IgM anti-topo II alpha Ab was observed in only 7% (3/43) of healthy individuals. The presence of pulmonary fibrosis was more frequently detected in SSc patients with IgG anti-topo II alpha Ab than those without the Ab (P<0.05). Moreover, % DLco and % VC were significantly decreased in SSc patients with anti-topo II alpha Ab relative to those without the Ab (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). The elevated levels of both erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were also more frequently observed in SSc patients positive for IgG anti-topo II alpha Ab (P<0.005). The results of the present study indicate that anti-topo II alpha Ab represent one of the autoantibody specificities detected on SSc patients and may be regarded a serological marker of pulmonary fibrosis in Japanese patients with SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takehara
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001323:Autoantibodies; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II