IgM autoantibodies to distinct apoptosis-associated antigens correlate with protection from cardiovascular events and renal disease in patients with SLE

Caroline Grönwall, Ehtisham Akhter, Cheongeun Oh, Rufus W. Burlingame, Michelle Petri, Gregg J. Silverman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Scopus citations

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests that there are IgM-autoantibodies that may play protective roles in SLE. While IgM are often considered polyreactive, we postulate that there are distinct sets of IgM-autoantibodies of defined autoreactive specificities relevant to different features of SLE. We examined the relationships between levels of IgM natural autoantibodies (NAbs) to apoptosis-associated phosphorylcholine (PC) or malondialdehyde (MDA) antigens, with lupus-associated autoantibodies and features of disease, in 120 SLE patients. IgM anti-PC was significantly higher in patients with low disease activity and less organ damage determined by the SELENA-SLEDAI, the physician's evaluation and the SLICC damage score. Furthermore, IgM anti-PC was significantly higher in patients without cardiovascular events. In contrast, IgM anti-cardiolipin and IgM anti-dsDNA were significantly higher in patients without renal disease. These results support the hypothesis that some IgM autoantibodies are part of a natural immune repertoire that provide homeostatic functions and protection from certain clinical lupus features.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)390-398
Number of pages9
JournalClinical Immunology
Volume142
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2012

Keywords

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • IgM
  • Natural antibodies
  • Renal disease
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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