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Autoantibodies specific for alpha-enolase in systemic autoimmune disorders
F Pratesi1, S Moscato, A Sabbatini
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.
The Journal of Rheumatology
|January 27, 2000
Summary
Anti-alpha-enolase antibodies are common in systemic autoimmune diseases like lupus and scleroderma. These antibodies are linked to kidney disease in lupus and mixed cryoglobulinemia, and severe endothelial damage in scleroderma.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Autoimmunity
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Alpha-enolase is a ubiquitous enzyme involved in cellular energy metabolism.
- Autoantibodies against alpha-enolase have been implicated in various autoimmune conditions.
- Understanding the role of anti-alpha-enolase antibodies is crucial for diagnosing and managing systemic autoimmune diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and specificity of anti-alpha-enolase antibodies in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases.
- To determine the association of anti-alpha-enolase antibodies with specific clinical manifestations, such as nephritis and endothelial damage.
- To explore the potential contribution of anti-alpha-enolase antibodies to disease pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were analyzed.
- Immunoblotting was employed using partially purified human kidney alpha-enolase and other enolase isoforms.
- Isotype-specific monoclonal antibodies were used to determine the immunoglobulin class of anti-enolase antibodies.
Main Results:
- IgG anti-alpha-enolase antibodies were detected in 27% of SLE patients, 30% of SSc patients, and 32% of MC patients with nephritis.
- Antibodies were primarily specific for the alpha isoform of enolase and were not species-specific.
- In SLE, anti-alpha-enolase antibodies were associated with active renal disease, and in SSc with severe endothelial damage.
Conclusions:
- Anti-alpha-enolase antibodies are frequently found in systemic autoimmune disorders.
- These antibodies are associated with nephritis in SLE and MC, and endothelial damage in SSc.
- Alpha-enolase's expression in the kidney and on endothelial cells suggests a role in mediating tissue injury through immune complex formation or direct cellular damage.