Significance of autoantibodies

IgG anti-tTG responses in different autoimmune conditions differ in their epitope targets and subclass usage

“…3) further supports this theory. Autoimmune diseases are frequently associated with disease-specific epitopes which may be useful in a diagnostic setting (Herkel and Lohse, 2008), but may also provide mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis and origin of such responses (Brito et al, 1994). The epitope specificity of antibodies to the diabetic autoantigen GAD65 has been extensively studied, with the pattern of epitope recognition of anti-GAD65 differing between patients with T1DM and Stiff person syndrome (Kim et al, 1994;Powers et al, 1999).…”

Autoantibodies as Prognostic Markers in Autoimmune Liver Disease

“…Over-interpretation of non-pathogenic serological profile and unnecessary treatment modifications [7] Improved understanding of disease mechanisms will lead to new serological markers of prognosis [149,225] Low negative predictability for poor outcome [22] Negative and positive predictabilities of disease severity and outcome will improve as critical disease mechanisms are clarified [149] Variable serum levels during course of disease and its treatment [22] Tighter correlations will emerge between serological behavior of critical markers and disease course [221] Lack of correlation between level of reactivity and disease severity or outcome [22,23] Serological findings will be associated with host-specific genetic factors that influence clinical phenotype and disease behavior [222] Lack of correlation between appearance and disappearance of the serological marker and disease behavior [22,214] Batteries of serological markers will compensate for individual variations in disease expression and reflect multiple pathogenic components [94] No confident minimum level of positivity [22] Distinctions between collateral and critical autoantibody production will be determined [7] Lack of standardized assays [215] International serum exchange with calibrated reference sera will ensure standardized testing [215] Limited access to serological tests [7] Appropriate testing algorithm will be codified and individual tests will be commercially available [215] Numbers in parentheses are citations for appropriate references 2154 Dig Dis Sci (2010) 55:2144-2161 plasma cells are being identified and characterized [149,[216][217][218][219][220]. The serological markers that reliably reflect these critical pathways will undoubtedly improve, and the negative and positive predictabilities of these new markers for disease severity and outcome will increase [221] (Table 3).…”

“…The serological markers that reliably reflect these critical pathways will undoubtedly improve, and the negative and positive predictabilities of these new markers for disease severity and outcome will increase [221] (Table 3). Genetic factors that influence the clinical phenotype of autoimmune hepatitis will continue to be clarified, and the host-dependent elements that influence disease expression will be better defined [222].…”

Impact of Autoantibodies against Glycolytic Enzymes on Pathogenicity of Autoimmune Retinopathy and Other Autoimmune Disorders

“…However, the lack of disease restriction of the AAb response to one disease may be related to an increased expression of glycolytic proteins in various organs that triggers an autoimmune response and the occurrence of AAbs with the same specificity in several chronic and autoimmune disorders (3, 21). The presence of AAbs to distinct epitopes within an autoantigen can be a sign of disease-specific pathogenic immune activity, while the recognition of multiple epitopes within the same autoantigen may not be disease-specific (108, 109). We can speculate that the reactivity to a particular autoantigen does not necessarily cause disease, but the presence of destructive AAbs of limited epitope-specificity can ultimately spread pathogenic autoimmunity (110).…”