Antibody and Autoantibody Specificities in Autoimmunity

Dear Colleagues,

Autoantibodies are a primary characteristic of many systemic autoimmune diseases. In some autoimmune diseases, there are classes of antibodies which are more specific for that particular disease. For instance, in systemic sclerosis (SSc), antibodies which identify the disease, called anti-topoisomerase (ATAs) and anti-centromer antibodies (ACAs), are generated even years before overt disease. However, autoimmune diseases that seem to be different, as they present different clinical manifestations, may share antibody reactivity. For instance, the antimicrobial peptide LL37 is an autoantigen in psoriasis while antibodies to LL37 are also generated in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). However, such antibodies are also highly expressed in systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). The link could be a neutrophil-dominated inflammation, which may be present in SLE kidney or skin, psoriasis skin and in PsA joints.

Interestingly, antibodies present in autoimmune patients can also target post-translationally modified autoantigens, and this may favor the breakage of tolerance. A typical example of this are antibodies generated against citrullinated and carbamoylated self-proteins in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a phenomenon also occurring in PsA and in SLE. Therefore, understanding the reasons why some antibodies mark only specific diseases whereas others are shared between diseases that affect different organs could shed light on common pathogenic pathways and, ultimately, inspire pharmacological interventions. The study of antibody specificities across several autoimmune diseases may also help to identify more precise and distinct biomarkers.

Biological therapies are widely used in autoimmunity and they can also induce typical antibodies. An example are antibodies generated during anti-TNF-alpha (anti-TNF) therapy for psoriasis or PsA, ankylosing spondylitis, RA, and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The reason why these antibodies are generated and the ways to counteract this phenomenon are of great importance.

Here, we invite clinical and basic research paper submissions on autoantibodies present in patients, including antibodies directed to post-translationally modified autoantigens, as well as those generated against antibodies used in therapy.

Dr. Loredana Frasca
Dr. E. Helen Kemp
Guest Editors

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• autoimmunity
• autoantibodies
• biological therapy
• post-translational modified autoantigens