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Cell-mediated immunity to myoglobin in polymyositis.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|April 1, 1983
Summary
Polymyositis and dermatomyositis patients show cell-mediated hypersensitivity to myoglobin, indicated by a significantly lower leucocyte migration inhibition index. This suggests myoglobin-specific immunity may play a role in these inflammatory muscle diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.
- The role of myoglobin as an autoantigen in PM/DM pathogenesis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cell-mediated hypersensitivity to myoglobin in patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis.
- To assess the presence of serum antibodies against myoglobin in these patients.
Main Methods:
- Leucocyte migration inhibition (LIF) test to assess cell-mediated immunity.
- Passive haemagglutination (PH) and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) to detect serum antibodies against myoglobin.
Main Results:
- PM/DM patients exhibited a significantly reduced migration index (47.5 ± 17%) compared to controls (86 ± 12%, p < 0.001), indicating cell-mediated hypersensitivity to myoglobin.
- Antimyoglobin antibody titers were elevated in PM/DM patients (150 ± 28) compared to disease controls (16.2 ± 15.9, p < 0.01).
- CIE detected antimyoglobin antibodies in 3/8 PM/DM patients but none of the controls.
Conclusions:
- Cell-mediated immunity against myoglobin may be involved in the pathogenesis of polymyositis.
- The clinical significance of antimyoglobin antibodies in PM/DM requires further investigation.