Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Autoantibodies to fibroblasts in scleroderma

T J Brentnall, D Kenneally, A J Barnett

    Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Immunology
    |May 1, 1982
    PubMed
    Summary

    This study examined autoantibodies in the blood of 33 people with scleroderma. Researchers used a technique called immunofluorescence to see how the antibodies reacted with fibroblast cells. All samples reacted with the cell surface, and most also reacted with the cell nucleus. Three main patterns of nuclear reactivity were found: homogeneous, nucleolar, and speckled. Most people had more than one pattern in their blood. The strongest reactions were with homogeneous and nucleolar patterns, which had higher antibody levels than speckled patterns. The study found that speckled pattern antibodies were always of the IgM type, while other patterns included IgG and IgA. No link was found between antibody patterns and disease severity. The results suggest that autoantibodies in scleroderma are diverse and may not directly predict clinical outcomes.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Protocol for a cluster randomised control trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of treatment for latent tuberculosis infection in recent migrants within primary care: the CATAPuLT trial.

    BMC public health·2019
    Same author

    Ethics and social acceptability of a proposed clinical trial using maternal gene therapy to treat severe early-onset fetal growth restriction.

    Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2016
    Same author

    The action of noradrenaline in man and its relation to pheochromocytoma and hypertension.

    Clinical science·2014
    Same author

    The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2013/14: overview.

    British journal of pharmacology·2014
    Same author

    Reattachment of the proximal hamstring origin: outcome in patients with partial and complete tears.

    Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA·2014
    Same author

    Stress-dependent and gender-specific neuroregulatory roles of the apelin receptor in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to acute stress.

    The Journal of endocrinology·2012

    Area of Science:

    • Autoimmune disease diagnostics
    • Connective tissue disorder immunology
    • Immunofluorescence in rheumatology

    Background:

    Scleroderma is a complex autoimmune condition, but the specific roles of autoantibodies remain unclear. Prior research has shown that fibroblasts are targets in some autoimmune responses, but the extent of reactivity in scleroderma is less defined. Established knowledge includes the presence of antinuclear antibodies in various rheumatic diseases. This gap motivated a closer look at fibroblast-specific reactivity patterns. No prior work had resolved the antibody classes involved in different staining patterns. The absence of a clear link between antibody profiles and disease severity remains a challenge. This paper's contribution lies in quantifying reactivity patterns and their antibody classes. The study offers new insights into the heterogeneity of scleroderma autoimmunity.

    Purpose Of The Study:

    This investigation aimed to evaluate immunofluorescent reactivity in scleroderma sera against fibroblasts. The specific problem addressed was the variability of antibody patterns and their potential diagnostic significance. Researchers sought to determine whether distinct staining patterns correlate with disease features. The motivation stemmed from the need to better understand scleroderma's immune mechanisms. No prior work had systematically categorized these reactivity patterns. The study focused on both cell membrane and nuclear reactivity. The goal was to assess antibody classes and titres across different patterns. The findings could inform future diagnostic approaches.

    Keywords:
    scleroderma autoantibodiesfibroblast immunofluorescenceautoimmune antibody patternsrheumatology diagnostics

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Homogeneous (46%), nucleolar (36%), and speckled (23%) staining patterns were most common.

    The speckled pattern is exclusively associated with IgM antibodies.

    Acetone fixation preserves nuclear structures for accurate antibody pattern assessment.

    70% of sera showed multiple patterns, indicating antibody diversity in scleroderma.

    Homogeneous and nucleolar patterns had higher titres than speckled patterns.

    Related Experiment Videos

    Main Methods:

    The study examined sera from 33 scleroderma patients using immunofluorescence. Both viable and acetone-fixed fibroblasts were tested as substrates. Cell surface reactivity was assessed in viable cells. Nuclear reactivity was evaluated in acetone-fixed cells. Three staining patterns were identified: homogeneous, nucleolar, and speckled. Antibody titres were measured across these patterns. Serum samples were analyzed for IgG, IgM, and IgA classes. Longitudinal data was collected from four patients over 10–12 months.

    Main Results:

    All 33 sera reacted with fibroblast cell surfaces. Nuclear reactivity was observed in 23 of 33 sera. Homogeneous staining was most common at 46%. Nucleolar and speckled patterns followed at 36% and 23%. Over 70% of sera showed multiple staining patterns. Homogeneous and nucleolar patterns had higher titres than speckled patterns. Homogeneous titres ranged from 1:8 to 1:1024. Nucleolar titres were similar, while speckled ranged up to 1:256. No pattern or titre changes were noted in four patients over time. Speckled pattern antibodies were exclusively IgM.

    Conclusions:

    The authors found that scleroderma sera consistently react with fibroblast membranes. Nuclear reactivity was common but varied in pattern and titre. Homogeneous and nucleolar patterns were more prevalent than speckled. Higher titres were associated with homogeneous and nucleolar patterns. Multiple staining patterns were observed in most sera. No correlation was found between antibody patterns and organ involvement. Antibody classes differed by staining pattern. IgM was exclusive to speckled patterns. These findings suggest heterogeneity in scleroderma autoimmunity. The lack of pattern-disease correlations implies complexity in clinical interpretation.

    No correlation was found between antibody staining patterns and visceral involvement.