Anti-NT5c1A Autoantibodies as Biomarkers in Inclusion Body Myositis

Conclusions: Anti-NT5c1A has moderate sensitivity and high specificity for sIBM using ALBIA. The presence of anti-NT5c1A antibodies may be associated with muscle weakness. Anti-NT5c1A antibodies were not associated with a specific IIF staining pattern, hence screening using HEp-2 substrate is unlikely to be a useful predictor for presence of these autoantibodies. Introduction Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis (sIBM) is one subset of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) that is characterized by a clinical presentation of asymmetrical muscle involvement, predominantly affecting the long finger flexors, quadriceps muscles and posterior oropharynx (1, 2). The prevalence of sIBM is thought to range from 4.9 to 33 per million and up to 51.3 per million in those above the age of 50 (1). However, in the absence of a reliable diagnostic biomarker, the prevalence is suspected to be underestimated due to diagnostic challenges in differentiating sIBM from other IIMs (3). Previous reports have suggested diagnostic criteria for sIBM, although the highest diagnostic sensitivity and specificity requires a combination of clinical, electrodiagnostic and pathological assessment (1, 2). Treatment of sIBM is notoriously challenging given the lack of response to conventional immunosuppression (1, 2). Although sIBM is not responsive to immunosuppression, the immune system is thought to play a significant role in the pathogenesis given documented clonal expansion of T and B cells, findings...
Source: Frontiers in Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research