title: B-lymphocyte stimulator and a proliferation-inducing ligand serum levels in IgA-deficient patients with and without celiac disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Rheumatology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Udine, Udine, Italy. fabris.martina@aoud.sanita.fvg.it
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Vita
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Visentini
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabro
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picierno
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lerussi
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Villalta
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Alessio
authors.forename: Marilina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tampoia
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tonutti
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13