A clinical link between apoptosis and autoimmunity

Excerpt

he U1-70 kDa protein is one of the major autoantigenic components in the U1 small nuclear RNP complex (U1 snRNP). Autoantibodies recognizing this protein are primarily present in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and SLE overlap diseases, such as mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Previous studies have suggested that a correlation exists between the clinical features of the patient and the immunodominant epitope that is recognized. It has also been suggested that apoptotic modifications of autoantigens may trigger the develop- ment of autoimmunity. The U1-70 kDa protein can be cleaved during apoptosis in different ways. Apoptosis induced by UV irradiation produces a 40 kDa cleavage product, while metal-catalyzed oxidative cleavage produces apoptotic fragments of 33 to 38 kDa. The latter products could be formed during ischemia-reperfusion in Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), while the former product could arise in photosensitive lupus patients. To test whether preferential recognition of the 40 kDa apoptotic product would occur in patients with sun-sensitive cutaneous lupus, but not in patients with RP and vice versa (whether the 33-38 kDa products would be preferentially recognized by autoantibodies in patients with RP, but not in UV-sensitive patients). …