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- Sjöwall, Christoffer, et al.
(author)
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Reduced anti-TNFα autoantibody levels coincide with flare in systemic lupus erythematosus
- 2004
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - : Elsevier BV. - 0896-8411. ; 22:4, s. 315-323
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Deviating cytokine patterns, as a consequence of aberrant immunoregulation, is implicated to be of aetiopathogenetic importance in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To evaluate the possibility of anti-cytokine autoantibody-mediated cytokine regulation/dysregulation, IgG class autoantibodies against cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNFα and TGFβ1) were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serial serum samples from clinically well-characterized SLE patients and in normal human sera (NHS). Anti-TNFα autoantibody levels were lower in patients with active disease compared to inactive disease (P<0.001) as well as to NHS (P<0.001). The anti-TNFα antibody levels correlated inversely to the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) (r2=0.07, P<0.01), whereas anti-TGFβ antibodies were raised in SLE and correlated positively to levels of complement factor C1q (r2=0.08, P<0.005). Generally raised anti-cytokine antibody levels and correlations to disease activity measures were found in one individual. Inverse correlations were found comparing SLEDAI scores and autoantibodies to TNFα (r2=0.92) and IL-6 (r2=0.86) and positive correlations were found between levels of anti-TNFα and C1q (r2=0.86) and C3 (r2=0.90). We show, for the first time, a coincidence between reduced anti-TNFα autoantibody levels and disease exacerbation in SLE, which is of interest regarding aetiopathogenesis and disease control.
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