Induction of endothelial cell apoptosis by anti-alpha-enolase antibody.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of anti-alpha-enolase antibody in systemic autoimmune diseases in Chinese patients and its role in endothelial cell apoptosis.


METHODS
The reactivity of anti-alpha-enolase antibody in a variety of autoimmune disorders in Chinese patients was evaluated by dot blot assay. Endothelial cell apoptosis was investigated by in vitro incubation of endothelial cells with IgG purified from anti-alpha-enolase antibody-positive sera, with or without pre-incubation with recombinant alpha-enolase.


RESULTS
Anti-alpha-enolase antibody was prevalent in different systemic autoimmune diseases with relatively high reactivity in Chinese patients. In vitro incubation of endothelial cells with IgG containing anti-alpha-enolase antibody induced apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis was partly inhibited by pre-incubation of the endothelial cells with recombinant alpha-enolase.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that alpha-enolase is a common auto-antigen recognized by anti-endothelial cell antibodies in connective tissue disease. Interaction between alpha-enolase and its autoantibody plays a role in endothelial cell apoptosis. Changes other than cell killing may contribute to the pathogenesis of endothelial damage and microvascular lesions.
Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Beijing 100730, China.
Hong-bo
HB
Yang
Wen-jie
WJ
Zheng
Xuan
X
Zhang
Fu-lin
FL
Tang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D001323:Autoantibodies; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase