Anti-OJ autoantibodies: Rare or underdetected?

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Rheumatology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Anti-OJ autoantibodies are rare myositis-specific autoantibodies targeting isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase.
• Current multiplex assays exhibit poor performance in detecting anti-OJ antibodies.
• The autoantigen's involvement in a multi-enzyme complex complicates detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature on challenges in detecting anti-OJ autoantibodies.
• To outline the clinical features associated with anti-OJ autoantibodies.
• To emphasize the need for reliable detection methods.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on anti-OJ autoantibodies.
• Analysis of detection issues with immunoassays and ELISAs.
• Correlation of autoantibody presence with clinical manifestations.

Main Results:

• Detection difficulties are linked to the autoantigen's nature within a synthetase complex.
• Anti-OJ autoantibodies are associated with anti-synthetase syndrome, often presenting with interstitial lung disease (ILD).
• Myositis, when present, is typically more severe than with other anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.

Conclusions:

• Anti-OJ autoantibodies may be better termed anti-OJ complex autoantibodies.
• ILD can be the sole manifestation in patients with anti-OJ antibodies.
• Clinicians must consider anti-OJ antibodies in ILD and myositis cases, necessitating improved detection methods for effective treatment.