Characterization of Anti-Phosphatidylcholine Polyreactive Natural Autoantibodies from Normal Human Subjects

• Published in: Journal of autoimmunity Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 181 - 190
• Main Authors: Cabiedes, Javier, Cabral, Antonio R, López-Mendoza, A.Tamara, Cordero-Esperón, Hugo A, Huerta, M.Teresa, Alarcón-Segovia, Donato
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anemias. Hemoglobinopathies; anti-phosphatidylcholine antibodies, autoantibodies in normal human subjects, ELISA natural autoantibodies, polyreactive autoantibodies; Antibodies, Antinuclear - blood; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid - blood; Autoantigens; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Cross Reactions; Diseases of red blood cells; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epitopes; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; g-globulin; General aspects; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hemolysis; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Immunopathology; Medical sciences; phosphatidylcholine; Phosphatidylcholines - immunology; Rheumatoid Factor - blood; Vimentin - immunology; anti-phosphatidylcholine antibodies, autoantibodies in normal human subjects, ELISA natural autoantibodies, polyreactive autoantibodies; Autoimmunity; Antigenic determinant; Healthy subject; Antibody; Autoantibody; Red blood cell; Phosphorylcholine; Antigen; Natural antibody; Autoantigen; Immunological investigation; Cross reaction; Phosphatidylcholine
• ISSN: 0896-8411; 1095-9157
• DOI: 10.1006/jaut.2001.0575

In 1990 our group reported a patient with autoimmune hemolytic anemia and high titers of IgM anticardiolipin antibodies that cross-reacted with phosphatidylcholine (PTC). These autoantibodies also recognized bromelain-treated erythrocytes (BrE) and in vitro aged erythrocytes. The epitope exposed with this treatment is PTC. To detect and characterize antiphosphatidylcholine antibodies (anti-PTC) in a normal human population, we studied by ELISA the presence of serum anti-PTC (IgG and IgM) in clinically healthy human subjects. The most representative samples were also studied for IgG or IgM activity against BrE by flow cytometry, rheumatoid factor activity, anti-dsDNA, anti-ssDNA by ELISA and by indirect immunofluorecence (IIF) using HEp-2 line and a healthy human fibroblast strain as substratum. Eighty five percent of sera had IgM anti-PTC and none had IgG. IgM antibodies against BrE were inhibited by PTC micelles (mPTC). Anti-PTC were also inhibited by phosphorylcholine and phosphatidic acid. Aggregated gammaglobulin (AGG) reactivity was inhibited by dsDNA and mPTC. The IgM anti-dsDNA activity was inhibited by soluble dsDNA, AGG and mPTC. All sera gave intermediate filaments pattern by IIF and reacted against purified vimentin by dot blot and Western blot. Our study shows hemolytic IgM anti-PTC present in normal human serum. The main epitope recognized by these autoantibodies is phosphorylcholine. The physicochemical characteristics, crossreactivity with self-antigens and functional properties are typical features of natural autoantibodies.