Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2009 Dec;29(4):249-255.

Analysis of Airway Epithelial Cell Autoantigens Recognized by IgG Autoantibodies from Patients with Severe Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The presence of circulating autoantibodies to airway epithelial cells has been reported in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possibility of a common autoantigen associated with both asthma and COPD, we analyzed airway epithelial cell autoantigens recognized by circulating IgG autoantibodies from patients with severe asthma and COPD. METHOD: IgG autoantibodies to human airway epithelial cells (A549) were examined in serum samples from patients with severe asthma and COPD by immunoblot analysis. RESULT: A 54-kDa airway epithelial autoantigen was commonly recognized by circulating IgG antibodies from patients with severe asthma and COPD. The 54-kDa auto-antigen was identified as cytokeratin 8 protein by mass spectrometry. IgG autoantibodies to recombinant human cytokeratin 8 protein were detected in serum samples from 5 (31.3%) of the 16 patients with severe asthma, 4 (26.6%) of 15 patients with COPD, 1 (7.7%) of 13 patients with mild-to-moderate asthma, and 1 (7.7%) of 13 healthy controls (P=0.056).
CONCLUSION
In this study, we identified cytokeratin 8 as an airway epithelial autoantigen associated with both severe asthma and COPD. Further studies are needed to determine the role of this autoantigen in the pathogenesis of severe asthma and COPD.

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Asthma
Autoantibodies
Autoantigens
Epithelial Cells
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Keratin-8
Mass Spectrometry
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Antibodies
Autoantibodies
Autoantigens
Immunoglobulin G
Keratin-8