Antinucleosome and anti-C1q antibodies in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

EDITORIAL

Antinucleosome and anti-C1q antibodies in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

In adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antinucleosome antibodies have already been described as markers of disease activity and lupus nephritis.^1-4 In addition, anti-C1q and antinucleosome antibodies have an amplifying effect on the etiopathogenesis of lupus nephritis in adults.⁵ In this issue of the Brazilian Journal of Rheumaotlogy, Jesus et al.⁶ have clearly shown the association of those antibodies with lupus nephritis, indicating that they could be a potential biomarker of renal lesion in juvenile SLE. In a previous study, that same group of researchers had already demonstrated the association of antinucleosome antibodies with disease activity, but not with lupus nephritis.⁷ One of the major concerns of rheumatologists is to identify a test that can be used in the follow-up of patients with SLE, both adult and juvenile, especially for establishing disease activity and its correct diagnosis. Thus, the study by Jesus et al.⁶ has shown that anti-C1q and antinucleosome antibodies have high specificity and elevated positive predictive value (over 97%) to diagnose lupus, being considered reliable instruments for clinical practice. Finally, those authors have also suggested that anti-C1q and antinucleosome antibodies should be measured in the investigation of lupus, especially in patients with juvenile SLE, who test negative for anti-dsDNA antibodies.

Paulo Louzada-Junior

Max Victor Carioca Freitas

Editors-in-chief, Brazilian Journal of Rheumatology

REFERENCES

• ¹
  Kiss E, Lakos G, Szegedi G, Poor G, Szodoray P. Anti-nucleossomo antibody, a reliable indicator for lupus nephritis. Autoimmunity 2009;42(5):393-8.
• ²
  Muller S, Dieker J, Tincani A, Meroni PL. Pathogenic antinucleossomo antibodies. Lupus 2008;17(5):431-6.
• ³
  Gómez-Puerta JA, Burlingame RW, Cervera R. Anticromatina (antinucleossomo) antibodies: diagnostic and clinical value. Autoimmun Rev 2008;7(8):606-11.
• ⁴
  Souza A, da Silva LM, Oliveira FR, Roselino AM, Louzada-Junior P. Anti-nucleossomo and anticromatina antibodies are present in active systemic lupus erythematosus but not in the cutaneous form of the disease. Lupus 2009;18(3):223-9.
• ⁵
  O'Flynn J, Flierman R, van der Pol P, Rops A, Satchell SC, Mathieson PW et al Nucleossomos and C1q bound to glomerular endothelial cells serve as targets for autoantibodies and determine complement activation. Mol Immunol 2011;49(1-2):75-83.
• ⁶
  Jesus AA, Campos LMA, Liphaus BL, Carneiro-Sampaio M, Mangueira CLP, Rosseto EA et al Anti-C1q, anti-chromatin/ nucleosome, and anti-dsDNA antibodies in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Rev Bras Reumatol 2012;52(6):971-81.
• ⁷
  Jesus AA, Silva CA, Carneiro-Sampaio M, Sheinberg M, Mangueira CL, Marie SK et al Anti-C1q antibodies in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2009;1173:235-8.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  04 Dec 2012
• Date of issue
  Dec 2012