Teresa Carbone, Italy
Ospedale San Carlo Istituto Reumatologico LucanoPresenter of 2 Presentations
UNDERSTANDING THE BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ANTI-DFS70 ANTIBODIES: IMPACT OF TNFALPHA BLOCKERS ON THEIR OCCURRENCE IN INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS.
Abstract
Background and Aims
The anti-dense fine speckled 70 kD (DFS70) antibodies have been detected in patients with several chronic inflammatory conditions, cancer, rheumatic diseases and also in apparently healthy individuals. The impact of therapeutic intervention on the occurrence of these antibodies is still undefined. The aims of our study were to investigate effects of anti-TNFα therapies on the development of anti-DFS70 antibodies.
Methods
Sera from adult Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients, fulfilling ACR/EULAR 2010 and ASAS 2011 criteria, respectively, were analyzed for anti-DFS70 antibodies as measured by indirect immunofluorescence and by immunoblotting. Medical history, demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected at enrolment.
Results
The prevalence rate of anti-DFS70 antibodies was 4.0% (4/100) in RA and 3.8% (4/105) in SpA, respectively, showing no statistical differences between these disease groups (p>0.05). The evaluation of anti-DFS70 antibodies induction rate after biologic treatments showed that 3 out of 4 anti-DFS70 antibodies both in RA that in SpA cohort were induced by anti-TNFα therapy. Neither RA nor SpA anti-DFS70 positive patients developed the drug-induced lupus erythematosus syndrome (DIL) during treatment with anti-TNFα therapy.
Conclusions
This is the first study investigating the impact of TNFα blockers on the occurrence of anti-DFS70 antibodies. In our cohorts, the majority of anti-DFS70 antibodies were negative before initiating biologics and were induced by anti-TNFα agents. Anti-DFS70 antibodies developed after anti-TNFa therapy were not associated to clinical manifestation of DIL, thus supporting the hypothesis that these autoantibodies do not have pathogenetic role.
ASSESSING VITAMIN D LEVELS IN AN ANTI-DFS70 POSITIVE POPULATION: NEW INSIGHTS EMERGING
Abstract
Background and Aims
Anti-dense fine speckled 70 (DFS70) autoantibodies have more often been described in apparently healthy individuals than in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). Vitamin D is known to be a crucial factor in the calcium homeostasis, but is also essential for immunity. Due to the role of vitamin D in modulating innate and adaptive immune functions, its deficiency is associated with increased autoreactivity or susceptibility to autoimmunity. The aim of this study was to explore the link between anti-DFS70 autoantibodies and vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in an Italian adult cohort.
Methods
Serum samples from 34 (5 males and 29 females) anti-DFS70 positive patients (index cases), 34 ANA-negative healthy controls, 34 ANA-positive anti-DFS70 negative SLE patients, both groups age- and gender-matched with the index cases, and six female SARD patients showing mixed DFS positive pattern were collected and tested for 25(OH)D levels. Relevant demographics and lifestyle practices, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities and use of medication were recorded for patients and healthy controls.
Results
Mean serum levels of 25(OH)D were significantly higher in anti-DFS70 positive subjects (mean±SD: 22.1±9.8 ng/ml) than in healthy controls (mean±SD: 17.3±6.7 ng/ml; p=0.03), in SLE patients (16.6 ±11.0 ng/ml; p=0.01) and in patients with SARD (15.0 ± 5.6 ng/ml; p=0.01). No statistically relevant differences in BMI, clinical or demographic parameters were found.
Conclusions
Our findings showed higher levels of vitamin D in anti-DFS70 positive subjects than in controls, which is compatible with the hypothesis of the ‘benign’ nature of anti-DFS70 antibodies.