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Autoantibody against caspase-3, an executioner of apoptosis, in patients with systemic sclerosis

2009; Springer Science+Business Media; Volume: 30; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/s00296-009-1068-3

1437-160X

Shihoko Okazaki, Fumihide Ogawa, Yohei Iwata, Toshihide Hara, Eiji Muroi, Kazuhiro Komura, Motoi Takenaka, Kazuhiro Shimizu, Minoru Hasegawa, Manabu Fujimoto, Shinichi Sato,

Eosinophilic Disorders and Syndromes

The objective of the study was to determine the presence or levels of antibodies (Abs) against caspase-3 and their clinical relevance in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Anti-caspase-3 Ab was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. IgG anti-caspase-3 Ab levels in SSc patients were higher than in normal controls. SSc patients positive for IgG anti-caspase-3 Ab had significantly longer disease duration, more frequent presence of decreased %VC and %DLco, and elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin and erythrocyte sedimentation rates. IgG anti-caspase-3 Ab levels correlated positively with serum IgG levels, renal vascular resistance, and serum levels of 8-isoprostane. Immunoblotting analysis confirmed the presence of anti-caspase-3 Ab in sera from SSc patients. Caspase-3 enzymatic activity was inhibited by IgG isolated from SSc sera containing IgG anti-caspase-3 Ab. These results suggest that autoantibody against caspase-3 is generated in SSc and that this Ab is related to the severity of pulmonary fibrosis, vascular damage, and inflammation.