Nonprecipitating IgG or IgM anti-Sm antibody: clinical significance and changes in immunoglobulin class
Tsuzaka, K.; Ogasawara, T.; Tojo, T.; Mimori, T.; Satoh, M.; Homma, M.
Journal of Rheumatology 20(5): 822-830
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 7687702 Document Number: 420520
Objective: To estimate the clinical significance of IgG or IgM nonprecipitating anti-Sm antibodies and their immunoglobulin (Ig) class switch. Methods: Ninety-one sera which were positive for anti-nRNP antibodies by double immunodiffusion (DID) were obtained from patients with various rheumatic diseases. Anti-Sm antibody was detected by RNA-immunoprecipitation (RNA-IP). IgG or IgM anti-Sm Ig class was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using affinity purified D polypeptide from HeLa cells. One hundred sixteen clinical manifestations were compared among these groups of patients. Results: By RNA-IP and DID, 91 were divided into 43 with nonprecipitating anti-Sm which were not detected by DID but not RNA-IP, 17 no anti-Sm, and 31 precipitating anti-Sm sera. In 43 patients with nonprecipitating anti-Sm, renal involvement was more common than in no anti-Sm patients. Besides, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-type manifestations were less common than in precipitating anti-Sm patients. In these 43 patients, IgM anti-Sm class was common (13/43). Decrease in the ratio of IgM to IgG anti-Sm antibody was observed in proportion to the years of observation in these patients. IgM anti-Sm predominated in the patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)-type manifestations while IgG anti-Sm did in those with SLE-type features. Conclusions: Patients with nonprecipitating anti-Sm who have IgM anti-Sm at early stages of disease are more likely to have MCTD-type manifestations and later may shift to SLE-type features. These may reflect the anti-Sm Ig class switches from IgM to IgG.