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An autoantibody reactive with nuclei of polymorphonuclear neutrophils: a cell differentiation marker
Abstract:
An autoantibody that reacted with nuclei of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) was detected at titers of greater than 10 in sera of 25 of 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 36 of 50 with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis but in none of 160 controls comprising 24 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, 36 with multiple myeloma, and 100 healthy subjects. Through the use of enriched populations of hemopoietic cells, this antibody was shown to be cell-specific, reacting only with the nucleus of the mature neutrophil. It was unreactive with nuclei of progenitor cells in the myeloid series and with nuclei of eosinophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and thymocytes. It reacted with a determinant that appeared to be a differentiation antigen. This cell-specific autoantibody may prove to be of value in analytical studies of granulocyte maturation.
Insights
Researchers identified a novel autoantibody targeting polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) nuclei in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune hepatitis. This discovery offers potential for understanding granulocyte maturation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
Background:
- Autoantibodies are implicated in various autoimmune diseases.
- Specific autoantibodies can serve as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a newly detected autoantibody reacting with polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) nuclei.
- To determine the specificity and potential diagnostic value of this autoantibody.
Main Methods:
- Sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, and healthy controls were tested for the autoantibody.
- Enriched hemopoietic cell populations were used to assess the antibody's cell and nuclear specificity.
- Immunological assays were employed to characterize the antibody's target determinant.
Main Results:
- The autoantibody was detected in 50% of rheumatoid arthritis patients and 72% of autoimmune chronic active hepatitis patients, but not in controls.
- The antibody demonstrated specificity for the nucleus of mature neutrophils, not progenitor cells or other leukocytes.
- The target appears to be a differentiation antigen on mature neutrophils.
Conclusions:
- A novel, cell-specific autoantibody targeting mature neutrophil nuclei has been identified.
- This autoantibody shows potential as a diagnostic marker for autoimmune conditions.
- It may also be valuable for research into granulocyte differentiation and maturation.