CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulates production of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in ANCA associated vasculitis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Wegener's Granulomatosis and Microscopic Polyangiitis are life-threatening systemic necrotizing vasculitides of unknown aetiology. The appearance of circulating antibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens (ANCA) is strongly as...

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Main Authors: Sarvestani Ghafar, Patel Mittal, Nitschke Jodie, Jeffs Lisa, Hurtado Plinio R, Cassidy John, Hissaria Pravin, Gillis David, Au Peh Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-07-01
Series:BMC Immunology
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2172/9/34
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author Sarvestani Ghafar
Patel Mittal
Nitschke Jodie
Jeffs Lisa
Hurtado Plinio R
Cassidy John
Hissaria Pravin
Gillis David
Au Peh Chen
author_facet Sarvestani Ghafar
Patel Mittal
Nitschke Jodie
Jeffs Lisa
Hurtado Plinio R
Cassidy John
Hissaria Pravin
Gillis David
Au Peh Chen
author_sort Sarvestani Ghafar
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Wegener's Granulomatosis and Microscopic Polyangiitis are life-threatening systemic necrotizing vasculitides of unknown aetiology. The appearance of circulating antibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens (ANCA) is strongly associated with the development of the disease. A link between infection and disease has long been suspected, and the appearance of ANCA antibodies has been reported following bacterial and viral infections. The depletion of circulating B cells with monoclonal antibody therapy can induce remission, and this observation suggests a pathogenic role for B cells in this disease. As bacterial DNA is known to induce B cell proliferation and antibody production via TLR-9 stimulation, we have explored the possibility that unmethylated CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, as found in bacterial and viral DNA, may play a role in stimulating circulating autoreactive B cells to produce ANCA in patients with vasculitis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have confirmed that unmethylated CpG oligonucleotide is a potent stimulator of antibody production by PBMC <it>in vitro</it>. The stimulation of PBMC with CpG oligonucleutides resulted in the production of similar amounts of IgG in both ANCA+ patients and normal controls. In spite of this, PR3 ANCA+ patients synthesised significantly higher amount of IgG ANCA than normal controls. In MPO ANCA+ patients, there was a tendency for patients to produce higher amount of ANCA than controls, however, the difference did not reach significance. Furthermore, we were able to detect circulating MPO-reactive B cells by ELISpot assay from the peripheral blood of 2 MPO+ ANCA vasculitis patients. Together, this indicates that circulating anti-neutrophil autoreactive B cells are present in ANCA+ vasculitis patients, and they are capable of producing antibodies in response to CpG stimulation. Of note, CpG also induced the production of the relevant autoantibodies in patients with other types of autoimmune diseases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Circulating ANCA autoreactive B cells are present in patients with ANCA<sup>+ </sup>vasculitis. The production of ANCA from these cells in response to unmethylated CpG stimulation lead us to propose that stimulation of these cells by immunostimulatory DNA sequences such as CpG oligodeoxynucleotide during infection may provide a link between infection and ANCA associated vasculitis. This phenomenon may also apply to other antibody mediated autoimmune diseases.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-fa22acf9d73c4e4eb8c57734ff89a9ce2022-12-22T03:25:44ZengBMCBMC Immunology1471-21722008-07-01913410.1186/1471-2172-9-34CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulates production of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in ANCA associated vasculitisSarvestani GhafarPatel MittalNitschke JodieJeffs LisaHurtado Plinio RCassidy JohnHissaria PravinGillis DavidAu Peh Chen<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Wegener's Granulomatosis and Microscopic Polyangiitis are life-threatening systemic necrotizing vasculitides of unknown aetiology. The appearance of circulating antibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens (ANCA) is strongly associated with the development of the disease. A link between infection and disease has long been suspected, and the appearance of ANCA antibodies has been reported following bacterial and viral infections. The depletion of circulating B cells with monoclonal antibody therapy can induce remission, and this observation suggests a pathogenic role for B cells in this disease. As bacterial DNA is known to induce B cell proliferation and antibody production via TLR-9 stimulation, we have explored the possibility that unmethylated CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, as found in bacterial and viral DNA, may play a role in stimulating circulating autoreactive B cells to produce ANCA in patients with vasculitis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have confirmed that unmethylated CpG oligonucleotide is a potent stimulator of antibody production by PBMC <it>in vitro</it>. The stimulation of PBMC with CpG oligonucleutides resulted in the production of similar amounts of IgG in both ANCA+ patients and normal controls. In spite of this, PR3 ANCA+ patients synthesised significantly higher amount of IgG ANCA than normal controls. In MPO ANCA+ patients, there was a tendency for patients to produce higher amount of ANCA than controls, however, the difference did not reach significance. Furthermore, we were able to detect circulating MPO-reactive B cells by ELISpot assay from the peripheral blood of 2 MPO+ ANCA vasculitis patients. Together, this indicates that circulating anti-neutrophil autoreactive B cells are present in ANCA+ vasculitis patients, and they are capable of producing antibodies in response to CpG stimulation. Of note, CpG also induced the production of the relevant autoantibodies in patients with other types of autoimmune diseases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Circulating ANCA autoreactive B cells are present in patients with ANCA<sup>+ </sup>vasculitis. The production of ANCA from these cells in response to unmethylated CpG stimulation lead us to propose that stimulation of these cells by immunostimulatory DNA sequences such as CpG oligodeoxynucleotide during infection may provide a link between infection and ANCA associated vasculitis. This phenomenon may also apply to other antibody mediated autoimmune diseases.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2172/9/34
spellingShingle Sarvestani Ghafar
Patel Mittal
Nitschke Jodie
Jeffs Lisa
Hurtado Plinio R
Cassidy John
Hissaria Pravin
Gillis David
Au Peh Chen
CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulates production of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in ANCA associated vasculitis
BMC Immunology
title CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulates production of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in ANCA associated vasculitis
title_full CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulates production of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in ANCA associated vasculitis
title_fullStr CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulates production of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in ANCA associated vasculitis
title_full_unstemmed CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulates production of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in ANCA associated vasculitis
title_short CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulates production of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in ANCA associated vasculitis
title_sort cpg oligodeoxynucleotide stimulates production of anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in anca associated vasculitis
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2172/9/34
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