Antiphospholipid antibodies in Brazilian hepatitis C virus carriers

Braz J Med Biol Res, June 2008, Volume 41(6) 489-492 (Short Communication)

Antiphospholipid antibodies in Brazilian hepatitis C virus carriers

A.M. Atta¹, P. Estevam², R. Paraná³, C.M. Pereira¹, B.C.O. Leite¹ and M.L.B. Sousa-Atta¹

¹Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, ²Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, ³Serviço de Gastroenterologia, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil

^Text

^{Correspondence and Footnotes}

Abstract

Hepatitis C, a worldwide viral infection, is an important health problem in Brazil. The virus causes chronic infection, provoking B lymphocyte dysfunction, as represented by cryoglobulinemia, non-organ-specific autoantibody production, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The aim of this research was to screen for the presence of antiphospholipid autoantibodies in 109 Brazilian hepatitis C virus carriers without clinical history of antiphospholipid syndrome. Forty healthy individuals were used as the control group. IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies against cardiolipin and β2-glycoprotein I were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using a cut-off point of either 20 UPL or 20 SBU. While 24 (22.0%) hepatitis C carriers had moderate titers of IgM anticardiolipin antibodies (median, 22.5 MPL; 95%CI: 21.5-25.4 MPL), only three carriers (<3%) had IgG anticardiolipin antibodies (median, 23 GPL; 95%CI: 20.5-25.5 GPL). Furthermore, IgA anticardiolipin antibodies were not detected in these individuals. Male gender and IgM anticardiolipin seropositivity were associated in the hepatitis C group (P = 0.0004). IgA anti-β2-glycoprotein-I antibodies were detected in 29 of 109 (27.0%) hepatitis C carriers (median, 41 SAU; 95%CI: 52.7-103.9 SAU). Twenty patients (18.0%) had IgM anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies (median, 27.6 SMU; 95%CI: 23.3-70.3 SMU), while two patients had IgG antibodies against this protein (titers, 33 and 78 SGU). Antiphospholipid antibodies were detected in only one healthy individual, who was seropositive for IgM anticardiolipin. We concluded that Brazilian individuals chronically infected with hepatitis C virus present a significant production of antiphospholipid antibodies, mainly IgA anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies, which are not associated with clinical manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome.

Key words: Hepatitis C virus; Antiphospholipid antibody; Brazilian patients

Text

Hepatitis C is a viral infection transmitted parentally by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), an enveloped positive stranded RNA Hepacivirus of the Flaviviridae family. The virus has six major genotypes that infect human cells, including hepatocytes, B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, monocytes, and epithelial cells (1,2). It is estimated that about 170 million people in the world, including 1.5-2.0% of the Brazilian population, are infected with this virus (3).

Features of HCV infection include: i) persistence of the virus, which may cause cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and ii) autoimmunity, which is mainly represented by cryoglobulinemia and production of non-organ-specific autoantibodies, including antiphospholipid autoantibodies (4-8). Antiphospholipid antibodies are a heterogeneous group of immunoglobulins that react with epitopes of proteins complexed with anionic phospholipids or epitopes of anionic phospholipids. Pathogenic antiphospholipid antibodies are immunoglobulins that react with proteins of the coagulation system such as β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) or prothrombin, causing a coagulation disorder known as antiphospholipid syndrome. Conversely, antiphospholipid antibodies presenting restricted antigen specificity for phospholipid epitopes are commonly found in infectious diseases, such as syphilis, and are not involved with coagulation disorders. Antiphospholipid syndrome may be either a primary disorder or secondarily associated with an autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus. The main features of antiphospholipid syndrome are either venous or arterial thrombosis and recurrent fetal loss (9).

Although antiphospholipid antibodies have been reported in HCV carriers, there have been some contradictory reports about their antigen specificity, isotype seroprevalence, and clinical importance (10). Apparently, environmental factors and the use of non-standardized immunoassays to detect antiphospholipid antibodies have contributed to the inconsistencies observed in different population studies that have investigated antiphospholipid antibodies in hepatitis C carriers.

In the present research, we investigated the seroprevalence of anticardiolipin and anti-β2GPI antibodies in HCV carriers from two hepatitis centers in Salvador, BA, Brazil. This investigation was undertaken using the standardized immunoassay kits that are used in most autoimmunity reference laboratories in the world.

One hundred and nine untreated HCV carriers (61 males: median age: 48.0 years, range: 13-86 years, 95%CI: 45.6-50.9 years; 48 females: median age: 48 years, range: 20-73 years, 95%CI: 44.6-60.0 years) were evaluated. All individuals were classified as HCV carriers after a clinical and laboratory diagnosis of hepatitis C was established, which included anti-HCV antibody detection by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using structural and non-structural HCV antigens (AXSYM System; Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL, USA) and HCV RNA detection by a polymerase chain reaction assay (Amplicor^® HCV Detection KIT V2.0; Roche Molecular Systems Inc., Somerville, NJ, USA). In 76 genotyped individuals, genotype 1 was predominant (N = 49), followed by genotype 3 (N = 23), and genotype 2 (N = 4). The median level of alanine aminotransferase in the HCV carrier group was 28.0 U/L (95%CI: 32.8-45.4 U/L), whereas in the healthy individuals it was 8.0 U/L (range 4-37 U/L; 95%CI = 9.7_15.3 U/L). Histologic evaluation of liver biopsies was performed in only 62 cases, using hematoxylin-eosin, Picrosirius red, and Perl's stains (11).

Progressive fibrosis was observed in approximately 40% of the HCV carriers, which was associated with an evolution of cirrhosis in some of these individuals. Some degree of steatosis was observed in 26 patients, but liver histology showed a portal disease, with portal fibrosis, compatible with chronic viral hepatitis. As recommended by international guidelines, liver biopsy was not performed in patients carrying genotypes 2 and 3, who should be treated without this exam (11). In contrast, liver biopsy is recommended for genotype 1 patients to determine treatment (11).

Forty healthy blood donors (22 males and 18 females, median age: 32 years, range: 18-61 years, 95%CI: 30.8-38.5 years) comprised the healthy control group. Informed written consent was obtained from all individuals, and the study was approved by the local Ethics Committee in Human Research (Fiocruz Foundation, Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz, BA, Brazil).

Anticardiolipin and anti-β2GPI antibodies were measured by ELISA (Quanta Lite™ Microwell ELISA; INOVA Diagnostics, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). IgA, IgG, and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies were determined with Quanta Lite™ ACA IgA, IgG, and IgM kits, respectively. Briefly, polystyrene micro-well ELISA plates coated with a purified cardiolipin antigen, as well as both bovine and human β2GPI, were incubated with 100 µL of a 1:101 dilution of the patient's serum sample for 30 min at 18-22°C. The micro-well plates were washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline, then incubated with 100 µL goat anti-human IgA, IgG, or IgM peroxidase conjugate under the same conditions. After additional washes, the plates were incubated with 100 µL hydrogen peroxide plus tetramethylbenzidine in the dark for 30 min at 18-22°C. The enzymatic reactions were stopped with 0.344 M sulfuric acid and their absorbances at 450 and 620 nm were measured using an ELISA reader. The anticardiolipin antibody titer of each serum sample was calculated using a reference curve consisting of five standards of known concentrations of IgA, IgG, or IgM anticardiolipin antibodies. The anticardiolipin antibody titer was reported as standard IgA anticardiolipin units (APL), standard IgG anticardiolipin units (GPL), or standard IgM anticardiolipin units (MPL), and was reported as a weak-positive (a titer of 20-80 UPL) and a strong-positive (a titer of >80 UPL).

The presence of total serum anti-β2GPI antibodies (IgA, IgG, and IgM) was first evaluated using the QUANTA Lite™ β2GPI Screen. After this evaluation, reactive sera were tested for the isotype of anti-β2GPI antibody by specific immunoassays for IgA, IgG and IgM (Quanta Lite™). These immunoassays were performed as described above for anticardiolipin antibodies, but polystyrene micro-well ELISA plates coated with a purified β2GPI were used. The β2GPI antibody level is reported as standard IgA anti-β2GPI units (SAU), standard IgG anti-β2GPI units (SGU), or standard IgM anti-β2GPI units (SMU). With the exception of the qualitative QUANTA Lite™ β2GPI Screen, a cut-off point of 20 standard units was used in the immunoassays for antiphospholipid antibodies.

Antibody titers are reported as the median and 95%CI. The Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze the difference between groups. The Fisher exact test was used to evaluate the association between categorical groups, while the Spearman test was used to identify a correlation between variables. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Statistical analysis was carried out with GraphPad software.

Twenty-four of 109 (22.0%) HCV carriers (21 males and 3 females) had IgM anticardiolipin antibodies of moderate titers (titer: 22.5 MPL, 95%CI: 21.5-25.4 MPL), while three carriers (2.7%) were seropositive for IgG anticardiolipin antibodies (titer: 23.0 GPL, 95%CI: 20.5-25.5 GPL; Figure 1). There were no IgA anticardiolipin antibodies in the HCV group. A strong association between IgM anticardiolipin seropositivity and male gender was demonstrated in the individuals infected with HCV (Fisher exact test, P = 0.0004).

Twenty-nine of 109 (26.6%) HCV carriers (15 males and 14 females) had anti-β2GPI IgA antibodies (titer: 41.0 SAU; 95%CI: 52.7-103.9 SAU). IgM anti-β2GPI antibodies were demonstrated in 20 of 109 (18.3%, 9 males and 11 females) HCV-infected patients who had a titer of 27.6 SMU (95%CI: 23.3-70.3 SMU), while only two (1.8%) HCV carriers were seropositive for IgG antibodies against this protein (titers, 33.1 and 78.0 SGU). There was no difference between the titers of SAU or SMU of males and females infected with HCV (P > 0.05; Figure 2). Furthermore, anticardiolipin and anti-β2GPI antibody titers were not correlated (P > 0.05).

Except for one healthy individual who was seropositive for IgM-aCL, there were no IgA or IgG anticardiolipin or anti-β2GPI antibodies (cut-off = 20 U) detected in the healthy individuals of the control group.

In this study, we showed that Brazilian individuals chronically infected with hepatitis C virus present a significant increase in the production of antiphospholipid antibodies. However, we did not investigate the fine antigen specificity of the antiphospholipid antibodies produced in these individuals. Confirming previous reports, there was no clinical history of antiphospholipid syndrome in their medical records (12,13), nor did documented atypical or infrequent features of this syndrome exist, such as myocardial infarction or intra-abdominal thrombotic events, which are only found in select and elderly populations of HCV carriers (14).

Our findings demonstrated that IgA anti-β2GPI antibodies are the most prevalent antiphospholipid antibodies in Brazilian HCV carriers. A similar high prevalence of IgA anti-β2GPI antibodies was also observed in Brazilian HIV patients from a retrovirus reference center in the same city (15). However, the prevalence of IgM anti-β2GPI antibodies in HIV patients was low (4.4%) compared with the prevalence of this antibody (18.3%) in the HCV carriers investigated in this study (15).

IgA anti-β2GPI antibodies have been associated with venous thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, heart valve disease, livedo reticularis, and epilepsy (16). More recently, a strong association between this isotype of anti-β2GPI antibody and atherosclerosis was demonstrated, thus indicating immune recognition of domain 4 of β2GPI (17). However, the association between coronary artery disease and chronic HCV infection is not conclusive, as indicated by two recent conflicting reports (18,19).

The seropositivity of IgA or IgM anti-β2GPI antibodies in Brazilian HCV carriers suggests that these immunoglobulins are probably induced by an immune mechanism of molecular mimicry between HCV proteins and β2GPI, in agreement with previous studies (20). Therefore, more studies are necessary to identify the epitopes recognized by IgA and IgM anti-β2GPI antibodies, and to document coronary artery disease or antiphospholipid syndrome in these HCV carriers. The need to undertake these studies is justified by the finding that antiphospholipid antibodies produced against domains of β2GPI in either viral or bacterial infections are able to induce experimental antiphospholipid syndrome after infusion in mice (20).

Figure 1.
Anticardiolipin antibody levels in hepatitis C virus carriers residing in Salvador, BA, Brazil. The titer of the anticardiolipin antibody isotypes was obtained using QUANTA Lite™ ELISA for the determination of anticardiolipin antibody-IgA, -IgG, or -IgM (INOVA Diagnostics, Inc.). The titers of these antibodies in serum samples of 109 HCV carriers are shown in the scattergrams. The horizontal line indicates the cut-off point of 20 UPL.

Figure 2.
β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) antibody levels in hepatitis C virus carriers residing in Salvador, BA, Brazil. The titers of IgA, IgG, and IgM anti-β2GPI antibodies were obtained using QUANTA Lite™ ELISA GPI-IgA, -IgG, and -IgM, respectively (INOVA Diagnostics, Inc.), and are reported in the scattergrams. Sera from 44 HCV carriers previously classified as seropositive for total antibodies against this protein by the QUANTA Lite™ β2GPI Screen test were evaluated. The median titers of the three isotypes of anti-GPI antibodies are represented by thin horizontal lines. The continuous thick horizontal line indicates the cut-off point of 20 SBU.

References

Address for correspondence: A.M. Atta, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Geremoabo, s/n°, Campus UFBA de Ondina, 40170115 Salvador, BA, Brasil. Fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]

Research supported by DECIT/MS/CNPq (#403056/2004-7) and FAPESB/MS (#PS15/2005). P. Estevam was the recipient of a fellowship from CAPES and B.C.O. Leite and C.M. Pereira received fellowships from CNPq (PIBIC). A.M. Atta has a CNPq fellowship for Research Productivity. Received September 6, 2007. Accepted May 26, 2008.

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Correspondence and Footnotes

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  31 May 2008
• Date of issue
  June 2008

History

• Accepted
  26 May 2008
• Received
  06 Sept 2007