OBJECTIVE: In patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), to determine concentrations of antibodies against survivin and their clinical association with SSc, and to evaluate serum survivin concentrations. METHODS: Anti-survivin antibody was examined by ELISA and immunoblotting using human recombinant survivin. Serum survivin levels were assessed by ELISA. RESULTS: IgG but not IgM anti-survivin antibody levels in patients with SSc were significantly higher than those in healthy controls and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). When cutoff values were set as mean + 2 SD of control, IgG anti-survivin antibodies were positive in 41% (25/61) of patients with SSc, while they were detected in only 1 healthy individual (3%, 1/29) and 1 patient with SLE (5%, 1/20). Regarding the clinical correlation, patients with SSc who were positive for IgG anti-survivin antibody exhibited significantly longer disease duration than those who were negative. Immunoblotting analysis confirmed the presence of anti-survivin antibody in sera from patients with SSc. Serum survivin levels in patients with SSc were also significantly higher than in controls and patients with SLE. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that autoantibody against survivin is generated in patients with SSc, especially those with long disease duration.
OBJECTIVE: In patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), to determine concentrations of antibodies against survivin and their clinical association with SSc, and to evaluate serum survivin concentrations. METHODS: Anti-survivin antibody was examined by ELISA and immunoblotting using human recombinant survivin. Serum survivin levels were assessed by ELISA. RESULTS: IgG but not IgM anti-survivin antibody levels in patients with SSc were significantly higher than those in healthy controls and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). When cutoff values were set as mean + 2 SD of control, IgG anti-survivin antibodies were positive in 41% (25/61) of patients with SSc, while they were detected in only 1 healthy individual (3%, 1/29) and 1 patient with SLE (5%, 1/20). Regarding the clinical correlation, patients with SSc who were positive for IgG anti-survivin antibody exhibited significantly longer disease duration than those who were negative. Immunoblotting analysis confirmed the presence of anti-survivin antibody in sera from patients with SSc. Serum survivin levels in patients with SSc were also significantly higher than in controls and patients with SLE. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that autoantibody against survivin is generated in patients with SSc, especially those with long disease duration.