title: Analysis of anti-topoisomerase I antibodies in patients with systemic sclerosis before and after autologous stem cell transplantation.
abstract: To evaluate the effect of autologous stem cell transplantation (aSCTrans) on antibody (Ab) reactivity towards topo I in patients with SSc, and to see whether it may correlate with clinical outcome after aSCTrans.
  
  
  
  Eighteen anti-topo/Scl70-positive patients with SSc in whom non-myeloablative aSCTrans had been performed were analysed. Seven patients showed good response without relapse for several years (group 1), eight primarily responded but later relapsed and three did not respond (group 2). A total of 74 sera were analysed at different time points and tested by ELISA against full length ( fl ) topo I, truncated ( tr ) topo I and a previously identified immunodominant epitope covering amino acid 489-573.
  
  
  
  Eighty-three percent had IgG Abs to topo fl and topo tr . Ab reactivity significantly decreased after aSCTrans, but remained positive in 10 of the 11 patients followed for up to 24 months. The decrease did not correlate with the clinical outcome after aSCTrans. Fifty-six percent of the patients reacted with topo489-573, and reactivity was nearly confined to group 2. There was no correlation between Ab reactivity towards topo fl or topo489-573 and the modified Rodnan Skin Score before aSCTrans or its decrease after aSCTrans.
  
  
  
  Although aSCTrans is a good treatment option in patients with progressive SSc, it does not abrogate Ab reactivity towards topo I. The presence of anti-topo489-573 Abs before aSCTrans may indicate a less favourable course after aSCTrans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henes
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Lennard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Glaeser
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kötter
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wichard
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kanz
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhild
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011379:Prognosis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C048100:Scl 70 antigen, human; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; C528909:TOP1 protein, human
keywords: anti-topoisomerase I antibodies; autologous stem cell transplantation; immunodominant epitope; systemic sclerosis