OBJECTIVESTo study the effect of antisperm antibody(AsAb) on human sperm acrosin activity.

METHODSAsAb and sperm acrosin activity were measured and analyzed in 3,432 infertile men and 65 fertile volunteers.

RESULTSAsAb positive rate was 10.20% in 3,432 case of male infertility, and 9.37% in 2,882 infertile males who received tests of sperm acrosin activity. Acrosin activity of infertility cases were lower than those of fertile cases(P < 0.001). The comparison between AsAb positive group and AsAb negative group infertility cases showed no significant differences of acrosin activity (P > 0.05). Between normal acrosin activity group and abnormal acrosin activity group, there was no significant difference of AsAb positive rate (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAntisperm antibody could not affect acrosin activity.

Acrosin ; metabolism ; Adult ; Autoantibodies ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; immunology ; Male ; Semen ; chemistry ; Spermatozoa ; enzymology ; immunology

The transition between the main subtypes of pemphigus, pemphigus vulgaris (PV), and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) has rarely been reported. Moreover, the development of PV in a patient with PF is much more unusual than that of PF in a patient with PV. We report a 48-year-old man who presented with cutaneous lesions showing the typical clinical and histological features of PF. Five years later, his skin lesions became extensive and he developed oral erosions. His condition did not respond well to steroids and azathioprine. Histological examination of a vesicle disclosed suprabasal acantholysis in contrast to the subcorneal acantholysis discovered upon initial histological evaluation. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed IgG antikeratinocyte cell surface antibodies at a titer of 1:640. The titer was 1:160 at initial diagnosis. Upon immunoblotting, the patient's serum reacted with 130 kiloDalton (kDa) and 160 kDa proteins, suggesting desmoglein (Dsg) 3 and 1, respectively. We herein report an unusual case of PV that developed from PF during the disease's flare-up.
Time Factors ; Steroids/therapeutic use ; Skin/pathology ; Pemphigus/*diagnosis/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Immunoglobulin G/chemistry ; Immunoblotting ; Humans ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Female ; Disease Progression ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Azathioprine/therapeutic use ; Autoantigens/chemistry ; Autoantibodies/chemistry ; Aged ; Adult

BACKGROUNDSmD1-amino-acid 83-119 peptide (SmD183-119) is the major epitope of Smith (Sm) antigen, which is specific for adult systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The anti-SmD183-119 antibody has exhibited higher sensitivity and specificity than anti-Sm antibody in diagnosing adult SLE. However, the utility of anti-SmD183-119antibodies remains unclear in children with SLE (cSLE). This study aimed to assess the characteristics of anti-SmD183-119antibody in the diagnosis of cSLE.

METHODSSamples from 242 children with different rheumatological and immunological disorders, including autoimmune diseases (SLE [n = 46] and ankylosing spondylitis [AS, n = 11]), nonautoimmune diseases (Henoch-Schonlein purpura [HSP, n = 60], idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura [n = 27], hematuria [n = 59], and arthralgia [n = 39]) were collected from Shanghai Children's Medical Center from March 6, 2012 to February 27, 2014. Seventy age- and sex-matched patients were enrolled in this study as the negative controls. All the patients' sera were analyzed for the anti-SmD183-119, anti-Sm, anti-U1-nRNP, anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), anti-nucleosome, anti-SSA/Ro60, anti-SSA/Ro52, anti-SSB, anti-Scl-70, and anti-histone antibodies using the immunoblotting assay. The differences in sensitivity and specificity between anti-SmD183-119 and anti-Sm antibodies were compared by Chi-square test. The correlations between anti-SmD183-119and other auto-antibodies were analyzed using the Spearman's correlation analysis. A value of P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSThirty-six out of 46 patients with cSLE were found to be positive for anti-SmD183-119, while 12 patients from the cSLE cohort were found to be positive for anti-Sm. Compared to cSLE, it has been shown that anti-SmD183-119 was only detected in 27.3% of patients with AS and 16.7% of patients with HSP. In comparison with anti-Sm, it has been demonstrated that anti-SmD183-119 had a higher sensitivity (78.3% vs. 26.1%, χ2 = 25.1, P< 0.05) and a lower specificity (90.8% vs. 100%, χ2 = 13.6, P< 0.05) in the diagnosis of cSLE. Further analysis revealed that anti-SmD183-119antibodies were positively correlated with anti-dsDNA, anti-nucleosome, and anti-histone antibodies in cSLE. Moreover, it has been clearly shown that anti-SmD183-119 was more sensitive than anti-Sm in discriminating autoimmune diseases from nonautoimmune disorders in patients with arthralgia or hematuria.

CONCLUSIONSMeasurement of anti-SmD183-119in patients with cSLE has a higher sensitivity and a marginally lower specificity than anti-Sm. It has been suggested that inclusion of anti-SmD183-119testing in the integrated laboratory diagnosis of cSLE may significantly improve the overall sensitivity in child populations.

Autoantibodies ; immunology ; Autoantigens ; immunology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases ; immunology ; Immunoblotting ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; immunology ; Male ; Peptides ; chemistry ; immunology ; snRNP Core Proteins ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) on lupus nephritis (LN) in MRL/lpr mice.

METHODSMRL/lpr mice with lupus nephritis were randomized into model group and TGP group. The urinary protein content was detected using Coomassie brilliant blue, and the serum levels of IgG anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The changes in the renal pathology were examined microscopically, and the spleen and thymus were weighed to calculate the spleen and thymus indexes.

RESULTSAt 15 and 30 days after TGP administration, the urinary protein content in the TGP group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0.05). TGP treatment significantly lowered the serum levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and ANA and the weight and index of spleen (P<0.05), resulting also in lessened renal pathology at 30 days after the administration. Compared to those before TGP treatment, the urinary protein content and the levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and ANA decreased significantly at 15 and 30 days after TGP administration (P<0.05), while in the model group, the level of anti-dsDNA increased significantly without obvious changes in urinary protein content or ANA. At 30 days after TGP administration, the urinary protein content was significantly lowered in the TGP group as compared to that at 15 days (P<0.05), but the antibodies showed no significant changes.

CONCLUSIONTGP can reduce urinary protein content and serum levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and ANA, and lessen renal pathology in MRL/lpr mice with lupus nephritis, suggesting its therapeutic effect on lupus nephritis.

Animals ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; blood ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; DNA ; immunology ; Female ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Lupus Nephritis ; blood ; drug therapy ; urine ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Proteinuria ; drug therapy

Several studies have suggested the involvement of an autoimmune mechanism in aspirin (ASA)-intolerant asthma. To test this hypothesis, we measured the levels of circulating autoantibodies, such as IgG and IgA to tissue transglutaminase (TGase), IgG to cytokeratins (CKs) 8, 18, and 19, Clq-binding immune complex (CIC), and antinuclear antibody (ANA), in the sera of 79 patients with ASA-intolerant asthma (Group I) and those of two control groups, consisting of 61 patients with ASA-tolerant asthma (Group II) and 88 healthy control subjects (Group III) by means of ELISA. Significantly higher prevalences of IgG antibodies to CK18 (13.9%) and CK19 (17.7%) were noted in Group I, as compared with Group III (p<0.05 for all) not with Group II. Regarding the prevalences of other autoantibodies, the levels of ANA (1.3%), IgG to TGase (3.8%), and CIC (24.7%) in Group I were not significantly different from those in Groups II and III. Significant correlations were found between positivities for the anti-CK18 and anti-CK19 autoantibodies and the PC20 methacholine values in the analysis of asthma Groups I and II vs. normal controls, (p=0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). Further studies are needed to explore the potential involvement of an autoantibody-mediated mechanism in the clinical manifestation of bronchial asthma.
Middle Aged ; Male ; Keratins/chemistry ; Inflammation ; Humans ; Female ; *Drug Resistance ; Child ; Case-Control Studies ; Bronchi/*pathology ; Autoantibodies/*chemistry ; Asthma/*drug therapy/*immunology ; Aspirin/*pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology ; Aged

Calreticulin (CRT) is a multifunctional molecule in both intracellular and extracellular environment. We have previously found that a recombinant CRT fragment (rCRT/39-272) could modulate T cell-mediated immunity in mice via activation and expansion of CD1d(hi)CD5⁺ B cells as well as induction of CRT-specific regulatory antibodies. Antibody secreting cells (ASCs) are terminally differentiated B cells responsible for producing antibodies to participate in positive immune response as well as immune regulation. In this study, we demonstrate that rCRT/39-272 differentiates murine CD1d(hi)CD5⁺ B cells into ASCs marked by increased expression of plasma cell-associated transcription factors and production of polyreactive antibodies against DNA and CRT in vitro. Intraperitoneal administration of rCRT/39-272 augmented differentiation of CD1d(hi)CD5⁺ B cells into ASCs in naïve mice or mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Thus, we propose that ASC differentiation and subsequent antibody production of CD1d(hi)CD5⁺ B cells are key steps in CRT-mediated immunoregulation on inflammatory T cell responses.
Animals ; Antigens, CD1d ; metabolism ; Autoantibodies ; biosynthesis ; B-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; CD5 Antigens ; metabolism ; Calreticulin ; chemistry ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental ; immunology ; Humans ; Mice ; Peptide Fragments ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Solubility

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of autoantibodies with mimicking specificity by using the dilution technique, to assess the usefulness of the combination of the dilution technique and red blood cell (RBC) phenotyping, and to establish a pre-transfusion testing algorithm in patients with warm autoantibodies. METHODS: Serum samples from 71 patients with warm autoantibodies were tested using the dilution technique. Among them, 25 samples were adsorbed with allogeneic ZZAP (a combination of dithiothreitol and enzyme) or polyethylene glycol (PEG) and their RBC phenotypes were determined. Thirty-nine patients were transfused with our pre-transfusion testing algorithm using a combination of dilution technique and RBC phenotyping. RESULTS: Autoantibodies with mimicking specificity were detected by the dilution technique in 26.8% (19/71) of the patients and most of them were directed against Rh system antigens. The agreement of the results obtained with the dilution technique in combination with RBC phenotyping and those from ZZAP or PEG adsorption was 100% (18/18) in patients who have autoantibodies with mimicking specificity and/or alloantibodies. No clinical symptoms indicating severe acute or delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions were reported in the 39 patients transfused with our pre-transfusion testing algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: Autoantibodies with mimicking specificity detected by the dilution technique in patients with warm autoantibodies are relatively frequent, can be discriminated from alloantibodies by employing a combination of dilution technique and RBC phenotyping, and might not appear to cause severe acute or delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions.
Adolescent ; Adsorption ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Algorithms ; Antibody Specificity ; Autoantibodies/*blood ; Child ; Erythrocytes/cytology/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; *Indicator Dilution Techniques ; Isoantibodies/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry ; Temperature ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of multi-glycosides of tripterygii (MT) on latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA) in early stage.

METHODSThe diabetic patients were divided randomly into the control group treated with insulin alone and the treated group treated with insulin and MT. Levels of insulin, C-peptide, glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADAb) and islet cell antibody (ICA) were detected and clinical features of the disease were observed.

RESULTSThere was no difference between the control group and the treated group in body mass index (BMI), the occurrence of diabetic keto-acidosis and the function of liver and kidney (P >0.05). After 6 months' treatment, the positive rate of GADAb and ICA decreased, plasma levels of fasting and 2 hrs post-prandial C-peptide and also 2 hrs post-prandial true insulin in the treated group increased (P <0.01), while all the above indexes improved more significantly after 1 year's treatment (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONCompared treatment of insulin with multi-glycosides of tripterygii in early stage of LADA has better effects in relieving autoimmune injury and recovering function of pancreatic island than insulin alone.

Adult ; Age of Onset ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; classification ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Glycosides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Insulin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Time Factors ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo appraise the effect of chronic abacterial prostatitis (CAP) on semen quality and the efficacy of antibacterial agents.

METHODSThe semen of 86 cases of CAP and 20 normal men were analysed together with the antisperm antibodies in their blood and semen, and the antisperm antibodies in the blood and spermatic fluid were determined. Then the 86 patients were randomized into two groups, one treated with Chinese traditional medicine, indomethacin and three kinds of antibacterial agents, the other with Chinese traditional medicine and indomethacin only. The treatment lasted 3 months, and a follow-up visit was paid every month.

RESULTSSperm motility and normal modality of the CAP group were 59.8% and 52.8%, respectively, significantly lower than those of the normal group (P < 0.005). The positive rates of the antisperm antibodies in the blood and spermatic fluid were 46.5% and 50%, respectively, significantly higher than those of the normal group. The clinical efficacy was significantly better in the group treated with antibacterial agents than the one without (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCAP can affect sperm quality and decrease fertility. Antibacterial agents can obviously enhance sperm quality and the cure rate of CAP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Autoantibodies ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Semen ; chemistry ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Antithyroid Agents ; therapeutic use ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glycosides ; therapeutic use ; Graves Disease ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Methimazole ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Tripterygium ; chemistry