Autoimmunity to Human Heat Shock Protein 60, Chlamydia pneumoniae Infection, and Inflammation in Predicting Coronary Risk

Abstract

Abstract-Heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection have both been associated with cardiovascular diseases. Our aim was to study the role of Hsp60 antibodies as coronary risk predictors and their association with C pneumoniae infection and inflammation. This was a prospective, nested, case-control study. The cases consisted of 239 middle-aged Finnish men who developed myocardial infarction or coronary death during the follow-up. Baseline levels of IgA and IgG antibodies to human-specific and C pneumoniae-specific Hsp60 were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Human Hsp60 IgA, but not IgG or C pneumoniae Hsp60, antibodies were a significant risk factor for coronary events (odds ratio 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.6, when the fourth and first quartiles are compared). When an elevated human Hsp60 IgA antibody level (above the second quartile) was present simultaneously with a high C pneumoniae IgA antibody level (the third quartile) and an elevated C-reactive protein level (the second quartile), compared with all factors at low levels, the risk was 7.0 (95% CI 2.6 to 19.1) without adjustment and 5.0 (95% CI 1.8 to 14.2) when adjustment was made for age and smoking. In conclusion, an elevated human Hsp60 IgA antibody level was a risk factor for coronary events, especially when it was present together with C pneumoniae infection and inflammation.

Association of serum antibodies to Heat-Shock protein 65 with coronary calcification levels. suggestion of Pathogen-Triggered autoimmunity in early atherosclerosis

“…Mayr et al 22 demonstrated that IgA antibodies to C pneumoniae were associated with carotid and femoral atherosclerosis and were correlated with antibodies to mycobacterial HSP65. Similarly, Huittinen et al 23 found that high levels of C pneumoniae IgA but not IgG antibodies were associated with the risk of coronary events and were also associated with human HSP60. In addition, although we found a positive association between antibodies to H pylori infection and coronary calcification, there are several important considerations for associations of H pylori infection with atherosclerosis.…”

Association between indices of body mass and antibody titres to heat-shock protein-60, -65 and -70 in healthy Caucasians

“…1,3 Clinical studies have reported positive associations between plasma antibody titres to Hsps and extent of cardiovascular disease. [4][5][6] However, it is unclear at which stage during atherogenesis these antibodies develop and what factors influence their appearance. Obesity is a known coronary risk factor associated with a heightened inflammatory state.…”

Association of autoantibodies to heat‐shock protein 60 with arterial vascular events in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies

“…Anti-Hsp65 antibodies, induced in response to these pathogens, can cross-react with self Hsp60 expressed on endothelial cells (4)(5)(6)(7). Elevated levels of anti-Hsp60 have been associated with progression and severity of atherosclerosis (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15), with vasculitis in systemic autoimmune diseases (16), and with thrombotic events in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus anticoagulant (LAC) positivity (17). Moreover, anti-Hsp60 from SLE patients were shown to bind to the surface of endothelial cells and induce apoptosis in these cells (17).…”