Phosphorylcholine antibodies are diminished in ANCA-associated vasculitis.
OBJECTIVE
ANCA-associated (AAV) vasculitis is an autoimmune small-vessel vasculitis and may be associated with accelerated atherosclerosis as suggested by current literature. Antibodies against oxidized lipoproteins (OxLDL) and phosphorylcholine (Pc) protect from atherosclerosis. This study characterizes these antibodies in AAV.


METHODS
Pc- and anti-OxLDL antibodies were determined in sera of 39 AAV patients and 44 healthy controls (HC). Intima-media thickness (IMT, carotids) and pulse wave velocity (PWV, A. femoralis) were measured.


RESULTS
Pc-/OxLDL IgM antibodies were significantly reduced in AAV. IMT and PWV were negatively associated with anti-Pc antibodies in HC only.


CONCLUSIONS
Atheroprotective anti-Pc/anti-OxLDL antibodies are significantly reduced in AAV possibly explaining accelerated atherosclerosis in vasculitis patients.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.|Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Benjamin
B
Wilde
Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Marjan
M
Slot
Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Pieter
P
van Paassen
Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Ruud
R
Theunissen
Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.|Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Michael
M
Kemna
Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Oliver
O
Witzke
Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.|Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jan Willem
JW
Cohen Tervaert
D056648:Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000378:metabolism; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000276:immunology*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis
D000906:Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D010767:Phosphorylcholine
ANCA; OxLDL; PcLDL; vasculitis