title: Association of anti-acidic ribosomal protein P0 and anti-galectin 3 antibodies with the development of skin lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The specific autoantibodies and antigens that mediate systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related organ injuries remain largely unknown. This study was undertaken to investigate the antibody-mediated immune response that leads to SLE skin lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 85 SLE patients with lupus-specific skin lesions and 31 without skin lesions. The reactivity of serum antibody with skin antigens was determined by immunoblotting using human foreskin as the substrate. Skin antigens were identified using mass spectrometry. Serum antibody was isolated by affinity purification and was injected intracutaneously into mouse skin to determine pathogenicity. Serum antibody levels were monitored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We determined that 78% of the patients with skin lesions had serum antibodies reactive with 35-kd and/or 25-kd skin antigens, which was significantly higher than the percentage of patients without skin lesions (P < 0.0001), suggesting a correlation between immune response and skin lesions. Acidic ribosomal protein P0 (RPLP0) and galectin 3 were 2 target antigens identified from 35-kd and 25-kd proteins, respectively. Purified serum anti-RPLP0 and anti-galectin 3 antibodies induced lupus-like histologic changes after intracutaneous injection. Anti-RPLP0 and anti-galectin 3 antibody levels were significantly higher in SLE patients than in healthy controls and decreased with skin recovery. Anti-galectin 3 antibody levels were not significantly higher in SLE patients than in patients with dermatomyositis or scleroderma, but strongly related to lupus cutaneous vasculitis. Additionally, levels of the 2 antibodies were positively correlated with leukopenia and C3 deficiency, and the anti-RPLP0 antibody level was also positively correlated with arthritis and SLE disease activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that the immune response mediated by serum anti-RPLP0 and anti-galectin 3 antibodies plays a key role in the pathogenesis of SLE skin lesions. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of SLE-related organ disorders.
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital and Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Rui
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Guo-Zhen
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Kai-Wen
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Kai-Hua
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yi-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Shu-Qing
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Shu-Juan
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiang-Bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Liangchun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008875:Middle Aged; D023421:Models, Animal; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D037502:Galectin 3; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; C054675:ribosomal protein P0