B-lymphocyte stimulator and a proliferation-inducing ligand serum levels in IgA-deficient patients with and without celiac disease.
IgA deficiency (IgAD) is the most common form of immunodeficiency and frequently associates with autoimmunity, especially with celiac disease (CD). The mechanisms underlying IgAD and the development of autoimmunity are still relatively unknown. Elevated B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) and APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) serum levels characterize several autoimmune diseases. We herein investigated BLyS and APRIL serum levels in IgAD patients with and without CD and compared these patients to CD patients with normal IgA and control patients (HBDs). Compared to HBDs, IgAD patients demonstrated a significant increase of BLyS (P < 0.0001) and APRIL (P = 0.003) levels, and no differences were seen between patients with or without CD. While BLyS appeared similarly overexpressed in IgAD and CD patients, APRIL was significantly increased only in IgAD patients. Because APRIL promotes IgA production, its overexpression may represent a physiological mechanism of compensation. BLyS upregulation may be involved in the increased risk of autoimmune disease development characterizing people carrying IgAD.
Fabris
Martina
M
Clinic of Rheumatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Udine, Udine, Italy. fabris.martina@aoud.sanita.fvg.it
De Vita
Salvatore
S
Visentini
Daniela
D
Fabro
Cinzia
C
Picierno
Alessia
A
Lerussi
Alice
A
Villalta
Danilo
D
Alessio
Maria Grazia
MG
Tampoia
Marilina
M
Tonutti
Elio
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13