Autoantibodies against galectin-8: their specificity, association with lymphopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus and detection in rheumatoid arthritis and acute inflammation

Massardo, L; Metz, C; Pardo E.; Mezzano, V; Babul, M.; Jarpa E.; guzman AM; Andre, S; Kaltner, H; Gabius, HJ; Jacobelli, S.; González A; Soza A.

Abstract

The role of autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has not been completely defined. From more than a hundred autoantibodies described in SLE, relatively few have been associated with clinical manifestations. The glycan-binding proteins of the galectin family can modulate the immune system. Anti-galectin autoantibodies thus could have functional and/or pathogenic implications in inflammatory processes and autoimmunity. We previously reported function-blocking autoantibodies against galectin-8 (Gal-8) in SLE. Here we tested these autoantibodies against a series of other human galectins and demonstrated their specificity for Gal-8, being detectable in 23% of 78 SLE patients. Remarkably, they associated with lymphopenia (50% of 18 anti-Gal-8-positive versus 18% of 60 anti-Gal-8-negative cases, Fisher's Exact test two-tailed: P < 0.012). Lymphopenia is a common clinical manifestation in SLE, yet of unknown mechanism. In addition, six of eight patients with both lymphopenia and malar rash had anti-Gal-8 in their sera. Occurrence of these autoantibodies was not confined to SLE as we also found them in sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (16%) and septicemia (20%). This study thus establishes occurrence of specific anti-Gal-8 autoantibodies in autoimmune rheumatic diseases and in acute inflammation, with an apparent association to a clinical subset in SLE. © 2009 SAGE Publications.

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Título según WOS: Autoantibodies against galectin-8: their specificity, association with lymphopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus and detection in rheumatoid arthritis and acute inflammation
Título según SCOPUS: Autoantibodies against galectin-8: Their specificity, association with lymphopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus and detection in rheumatoid arthritis and acute inflammation
Título de la Revista: International Journal of Endocrinology
Volumen: 18
Número: 6
Editorial: International Journal of Endocrinology
Fecha de publicación: 2009
Página de inicio: 539
Página final: 546
Idioma: English
URL: http://lup.sagepub.com/cgi/doi/10.1177/0961203308099973
DOI:

10.1177/0961203308099973

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS