title: Autoantibody against caspase-3, an executioner of apoptosis, in patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: The objective of the study was to determine the presence or levels of antibodies (Abs) against caspase-3 and their clinical relevance in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Anti-caspase-3 Ab was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. IgG anti-caspase-3 Ab levels in SSc patients were higher than in normal controls. SSc patients positive for IgG anti-caspase-3 Ab had significantly longer disease duration, more frequent presence of decreased %VC and %DLco, and elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin and erythrocyte sedimentation rates. IgG anti-caspase-3 Ab levels correlated positively with serum IgG levels, renal vascular resistance, and serum levels of 8-isoprostane. Immunoblotting analysis confirmed the presence of anti-caspase-3 Ab in sera from SSc patients. Caspase-3 enzymatic activity was inhibited by IgG isolated from SSc sera containing IgG anti-caspase-3 Ab. These results suggest that autoantibody against caspase-3 is generated in SSc and that this Ab is related to the severity of pulmonary fibrosis, vascular damage, and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Shihoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: Fumihide
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Toshihide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muroi
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komura
authors.forename: Motoi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takenaka
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000276:immunology*; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000276:immunology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D015237:Dinoprost; D053148:Caspase 3