Effects of short-term infliximab therapy on autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze changes in autoantibodies occurring in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with 4 infusions of the chimeric anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) antibody infliximab.


METHODS
In an open-label safety study, 7 patients with SLE were treated with infliximab at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 10 in combination with azathioprine or methotrexate. Antibodies to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) were determined by radioimmunoassay and the Crithidia luciliae indirect immunofluorescence assay; anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and antibodies to histone and chromatin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antihistone antibodies were also analyzed by immunoblotting. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals and SLE patients were incubated for 2 weeks with or without TNFalpha. TNFalpha was removed by washing and by the addition of infliximab. Apoptotic cells were stained with annexin V and analyzed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Autoantibodies to dsDNA increased in 5 of 7 patients. Histone, chromatin, and IgM aCL levels were increased in 4 of 7, 6 of 7, and 4 of 7 patients, respectively, peaking 4-10 weeks after the last infliximab infusion, but falling to baseline levels or lower thereafter. In the in vitro experiments, TNF withdrawal after long-term incubation with recombinant human TNF led to increased percentages of apoptotic cells.


CONCLUSIONS
While TNF blockade was clinically effective, the majority of SLE patients treated with infliximab showed an increase in autoantibodies to nuclear antigens and phospholipids. These increases were transient and were not associated with disease flares. Increased availability of apoptotic antigens after TNF blockade may play a role in the autoantibody formation induced by TNF blockade.
Aringer
Martin
M
Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. martin.aringer@meduniwien.ac.at
Steiner
Günter
G
Graninger
Winfried B
WB
Höfler
Elisabeth
E
Steiner
Carl W
CW
Smolen
Josef S
JS
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004247:DNA; D000069285:Infliximab; D001379:Azathioprine; D008727:Methotrexate