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An Autoimmune Basis for Raynaud's Phenomenon: Murine Model and Human Disease
D P Ascherman1, Y Zang2, I Fernandez2
1Miami VA Medical Center and University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
Objective:
Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is common in anti-RNP-positive patients with rheumatic diseases but is not itself known to be caused by autoimmunity. The aim of this study was to assess autoantibodies that could mediate this process.
Methods:
Antibodies derived from patient sera and from murine models of anti-RNP autoimmunity were screened for the ability to induce RP-like tissue ischemia and endothelial cell apoptosis in murine models and in vitro systems.
Results:
RNP-positive sera from RP patients and murine sera from RNP-positive B cell adoptive transfer recipients induced RP-like tissue ischemia and endothelial cell apoptosis. Proteomic analysis identified cytokeratin 10 (K10) as a candidate autoantigen in RP. Monoclonal anti-K10 antibodies reproduced patterns of ischemic tissue loss and endothelial cell apoptosis; K10 knockout or depletion of anti-K10 activity in serum was protective. Cold exposure enhanced K10 expression and in vivo tissue loss.
Conclusion:
Anti-K10 antibodies are sufficient to mediate RP-like ischemia in murine models and are implicated in the pathogenesis of RP in patients with anti-RNP autoimmunity.
