Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) have been found in ulcerative colitis (UC). In particular, antibodies to human lactoferrin (LF) could inhibit the anti-inflammatory effect of LF and activate the neutrophils. The objective of this preliminary study was to investigate the presence of ANCA in sera from patients with UC, to analyse the immunofluorescence pattern and the specific reactivity against lactoferrin. We investigated the presence of ANCA in 19 patients affected by UC. Disease activity was established according to a 'disease activity index'. The presence of ANCA was carried out by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) while the reactivity against lactoferrin was assessed by ELISA. ANCA were demonstrated by IIF in sera from 7/19 (36.8%) patients. All of them had active disease, whereas no positivity was found in patients in clinical remission. Sera from 8/19 (42%) patients showed IgG-antiLF levels significantly increased. Interestingly, 6 of them presented active disease. Sera from 6 patients, all with active disease, were both anti-LF positive, by ELISA, and ANCA positive by IIF. Anti-LF antibodies could play a pathogenetic role in UC.
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in ulcerative colitis
DE ROSA, Francesco Giuseppe;
1995-01-01
Abstract
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) have been found in ulcerative colitis (UC). In particular, antibodies to human lactoferrin (LF) could inhibit the anti-inflammatory effect of LF and activate the neutrophils. The objective of this preliminary study was to investigate the presence of ANCA in sera from patients with UC, to analyse the immunofluorescence pattern and the specific reactivity against lactoferrin. We investigated the presence of ANCA in 19 patients affected by UC. Disease activity was established according to a 'disease activity index'. The presence of ANCA was carried out by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) while the reactivity against lactoferrin was assessed by ELISA. ANCA were demonstrated by IIF in sera from 7/19 (36.8%) patients. All of them had active disease, whereas no positivity was found in patients in clinical remission. Sera from 8/19 (42%) patients showed IgG-antiLF levels significantly increased. Interestingly, 6 of them presented active disease. Sera from 6 patients, all with active disease, were both anti-LF positive, by ELISA, and ANCA positive by IIF. Anti-LF antibodies could play a pathogenetic role in UC.
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