Ganglionic acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies in patients with autoimmune diseases including primary biliary cirrhosis. Issue 4 (4th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maeda, Yasuhiro; Nakane, Shunya; Higuchi, Osamu; Nakamura, Hideki; Komori, Atsumasa; Migita, Kiyoshi; Mukaino, Akihiro; Umeda, Masataka; Ichinose, Kunihiro; Tamai, Mami; Kawashiri, Shin-ya; Sakai, Waka; Yatsuhashi, Hiroshi; Kawakami, Atsushi; Matsuo, Hidenori
• Is Part Of: Modern rheumatology. Volume 27:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 664
• Page End: 668
• Publication Date: 2017-07-04
• Subjects: Anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor antibodies -- Primary biliary cirrhosis -- Rheumatoid arthritis -- Systemic lupus erythematosus -- Systemic sclerosis; Rheumatology -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1080/14397595.2016.1226469
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1439-7595

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives : Autonomic dysfunction is closely associated with autoimmune diseases (AID) including primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-ganglionic (nicotinic) acetylcholine receptor (gAChR) antibodies in patients with AID. Methods : We determined the presence of gAChR antibodies in serum samples from 146 patients (systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] = 32; rheumatoid arthritis [RA] = 43; systemic sclerosis [SSc] = 38; PBC= 33) without information regarding autonomic symptoms, as well as 34 patients with other neurological diseases [OND], and 73 healthy controls [HC]. We specifically analyzed sera for anti-gAChRα3 and -β4 antibodies using the luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assay. Results : LIPS assay detected anti-gAChRα3 and -β4 antibodies in the sera from patients with SLE (12.5%, 4/32), RA (18.6%, 8/43), SSc (13.2%, 5/38), PBC (9.1%, 3/33), OND (2.9%, 1/34), and HC (0.0%, 1/73). There were no significant correlations between the levels of anti-gAChRα3 and -β4 antibodies, and the total titers of autoantibodies in AID. Conclusions : The results demonstrated a significant prevalence of anti-gAChR antibodies in patients with AID, which is independent of the production of other autoantibodies in patients with autoimmune diseases. These anti-gAChR antibodies could mediate the autonomic dysfunction involved in the autoimmune mechanisms of AID.