Autoantibodies in connective tissue disease with pulmonary hypertension possibly play a role in the pathogenesis.

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26860362
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Laboratory medicine
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Kato Yuko 東京医科歯科大学, 保健衛生学研究科, 助教 (50580875)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 自己抗体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The process of pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension in connective tissue disease largely depends on migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Since autoantibodies in connective tissue disease patients were reported involving in cell migration, we tested whether auto-antibodies in connective tissue disease patients can play a role in the pathogenesis.
IgG from patients significantly increased migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, which was greater in the patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension than those without it. Moreover, the antibodies bound to enolase 1, and the titer of IgG anti- enolase 1 antibodies was higher in the patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension than those without it. These results suggest that Anti-enolase 1 antibodies in connective tissue disease patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension may induce migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, and possibly play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis.

Free Research Field

免疫検査学