Inflammatory bowel disease-specific autoantibodies in HLA-B27-associated spondyloarthropathies: Increased prevalence of ASCA and pANCA

Aims: An association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and spondyloarthropathies (SpA) has repeatedly been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether serologic markers of IBD, e. g. antibodies against Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA), antibodies against exocrine pancreas (PAB) and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) are present in HLA-B27-associated SpA. Methods: 87 patients with HLA-B27-positive SpA and 145 controls were tested for ASCA, PAB and pANCA employing ELISA or indirect immunofluorescence, respectively. Antibody-positive patients were interviewed regarding IBD-related symptoms using a standardized questionnaire. Results/Conclusion: When compared to the controls, ASCA IgA but not ASCA IgG levels were significantly increased in patients with SpA, in particular in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and undifferentiated SpA (uSpA). pANCA were found in increased frequency in patients with SpA whereas PAB were not detected. The existence of autoantibodies was not associated with gastrointestinal symptoms but sustains the presence of a pathophysiological link between bowel inflammation and SpA. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Alpha beta but not gamma delta T cell clones in synovial fluids of patients with reactive arthritis show active transcription of tumour necrosis factor α and interferon γ

Methods: Complementary DNA based microarrays containing the specific sequence of 56 cytokine transcripts were used for screening. Selected genes were confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay. Results: Microarray showed that transcripts encoding for interferon γ and tumour necrosis factor α were expressed by all CD8+ and CD4+ T cell clones. However, γδ+ T cells predominantly expressed transforming growth factor ß2 and granulocyte monocyte-colony stimulating factor. Conclusion: T lymphocyte clones from the joint of patients with ReA exhibit differential cytokine expression profiles. CD8+ and CD4+ T cells demonstrate a Th1 mediated profile, whereas γδ+ T cells show a more heterogeneous and less proinflammatory Th3 driven pattern