title: Infectious serologies and autoantibodies in Wegener's granulomatosis and other vasculitides: novel associations disclosed using the Rad BioPlex 2200.
abstract: In this study we assess the presence of antibodies against infectious agents as well as for a variety of autoantibodies in an attempt to establish associations between various vasculitides and infections in order to shed light on the etiopathogenesis of these diseases and perhaps implicate a potential cure. Sera from patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), polyarteritis nodosa, microscopic polyangiitis, Churg Strauss, and giant cell arteritis were compared to healthy control sera. Serum samples were assessed, using the Bio-Rad BioPlex 2200, for the presence of Toxoplama gondii, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Treponema pallidum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and anti-Helicobacter pylori antibodies were assessed by ELISA. In addition, sera were tested for a panel of antibodies associated with thrombophilia as well as various autoantibodies. The prevalence of antibodies toward HCV and H. pylori was significantly higher among patients with WG. IgG antibodies toward T. gondii and IgM antibodies toward CMV were significantly more common among WG patients than among controls. WG patients exhibited more antibodies toward EBV viral capsid antigen IgG and EBV early antigen IgG compared to sera from healthy controls. In WG, positive associations were disclosed between CMV IgG antibodies and the presence of gastrointestinal manifestations and renal involvement, and there was a higher Birmingham vasculitis activity score in association with elevated titers of EBV viral capsid antigen IgG antibodies. Otorhinolaryngeal manifestations were more common in those with positive IgG antibodies for EBV early antigen. Our results unveil novel associations between WG and various infectious agents, including HCV, H. pylori, T. gondii, CMV, and EBV. In addition to putative roles in initiation and exacerbation of the vasculitic process, it seems that these infectious agents also modulate the clinical phenotype of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Center for Autoimmune Disease, Rheumatology Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Merav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lidar
authors.forename: Noga
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lipschitz
authors.forename: Pnina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langevitz
authors.forename: Ori
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barzilai
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.forename: Bat-Sheba
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Porat-Katz
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagnoux
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guilpain
authors.forename: Renato Alberto
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sinico
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radice
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bizzaro
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damoiseaux
authors.forename: Jan Willem Cohen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tervaert
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Loïc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillevin
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bombardieri
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M