Prevalence and clinico-serological correlations of anti-alpha-enolase, anti-C1q, and anti-dsDNA antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence and clinico-serological correlations of anti-enolase, anti-C1q, and anti-dsDNA antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
Sixty-eight sera randomly obtained from SLE patients were examined. Anti-alpha-enolase antibodies were detected by immunoblot on recombinant protein; anti-C1q and anti-dsDNA antibodies were detected using an ELISA.


RESULTS
Anti-alpha-enolase, anti-C1q, and anti-dsDNA antibodies were positive in 21%, 62%, and 63% of patients, respectively. A correlation was found between anti-dsDNA and anti-C1q antibodies, while anti-enolase antibodies did not correlate with the other 2 specificities. Anti-alpha-enolase antibodies were not correlated with any of the clinical and serological variables examined. Anti-C1q antibodies were correlated with ECLAM score, leukopenia, complement levels, and active renal involvement. Anti-dsDNA antibodies correlated with arthritis, leukopenia, complement levels, and the presence of renal involvement, independent of activity. In patients with active renal disease anti-dsDNA antibodies were correlated with a poor renal outcome, occurring after a mean period of 24 months.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest the association of anti-C1q antibodies with disease flares and active renal disease in SLE. The observed association of anti-dsDNA antibodies and renal disease was expected. Further analysis is required to fully assess the clinical significance of anti-a-enolase antibodies.
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy. marta.mosca@int.med.unipi.it
Marta
M
Mosca
Daniele
D
Chimenti
Federico
F
Pratesi
Chiara
C
Baldini
Consuelo
C
Anzilotti
Stefano
S
Bombardieri
Paola
P
Migliorini
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D015922:Complement C1q; D004247:DNA; C095157:ENO1 protein, human; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase