title: Autoantibodies against platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Autoantibody against platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) has been reported in scleroderma (SSc). However, it remains unknown whether anti-PDGFRs antibody exists in collagen vascular diseases other than SSc. To answer the question, we developed an ELISA system and examined sera from patients with SLE (n = 75), SSc (n = 31), RA (n = 25) and control individuals. We also reviewed medical records to clarify clinical features of patients with anti-PDGFRα antibody. To examine the functions of anti-PDGFRα antibody in patients, fibroblasts were cultured and stimulated in the presence of purified IgG from patients, and their cell numbers were counted. Anti-PDGFRα antibody was detected in 29% of patients with SLE and in 21% of patients with SSc. Anti-PDGFRα antibody was found in 36% with active SLE, but in 10% in an inactive phase. Immunosuppressive therapy decreased the titer of the antibody. Patients with anti-PDGFRα antibody frequently developed a rash and hematological abnormalities, particular hemolytic anemia. Moreover, anti-PDGFRα antibody in SLE failed to demonstrate agonistic or antagonistic activities on PDGFR signaling. These findings indicate that nonfunctional anti-PDGFRα autoantibody exists in patients with SLE as well as those with scleroderma, and that the antibody could be a marker of disease activity and may be a marker of a subgroup of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kita-Kobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan. kurasawa@dokkyomed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurasawa
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Owada
authors.forename: Reika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maezawa
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumano
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A