title: Anti-topoisomerase I antibody levels as serum markers of skin sclerosis in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical significance of anti-topoisomerase I antibody (Ab) levels in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Using immunoprecipitation assays and enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), anti-topoisomerase I Ab was detected in 53 SSc patients who visited Kanazawa University Hospital between 2001 and 2010. In these patients, the association between serum anti-topoisomerase I Ab levels measured with ELISA and clinical features were compared using univariate analysis and multiple regression analysis. There were significantly positive correlations between anti-topoisomerase I Ab levels and the modified Rodnan total skin thickness score (MRSS) and skin thickness progression rate, and a significantly negative correlation with disease duration. On the other hand, anti-topoisomerase I Ab levels were not significantly associated with other clinical features including lung involvement. In a longitudinal study, anti-topoisomerase I Ab levels were decreased significantly in patients that had decreased MRSS, but not in patients that had unchanged or increased MRSS. There was a significantly positive association between anti-topoisomerase I Ab levels and MRSS and a significantly negative association with disease duration by multiple regression analysis. Our findings suggest that serum levels of anti-topoisomerase I Ab reflect the severity of skin sclerosis in patients with SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan. minoruha@derma.m.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Sayako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imura-Kumada
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamaguchi
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takehara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I