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Interpretation of an extended autoantibody profile in a well-characterized Australian systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) cohort using principal components analysis

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 14:56 authored by Patterson, KA, Roberts-Thomson, PJ, Lester, S, Tan, JA, Hakendorf, P, Rischmueller, M, Zochling, J, Sahhar, J, Nash, P, Roddy, J, Hill, C, Nikpour, M, Stevens, W, Proudman, SM, Walker, JG

Objective: To determine the relationships between systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related autoantibodies, as well as their clinical associations, in a well-characterized Australian patient cohort.

Methods: Serum from 505 Australian SSc patients were analyzed with a commercial line immunoassay (EuroLine; Euroimmun) for autoantibodies to centromere proteins CENP-A and CENP-B, RNA polymerase III (RNAP III; epitopes 11 and 155), the 90-kd nucleolar protein NOR-90, fibrillarin, Th/To, PM/Scl-75, PM/Scl-100, Ku, topoisomerase I (topo I), tripartite motif-containing protein 21/Ro 52, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor. Patient subgroups were identified by hierarchical clustering of the first 2 dimensions of a principal components analysis of quantitative autoantibody scores. Results were compared with detailed clinical data.

Results: A total of 449 of the 505 patients were positive for at least 1 autoantibody by immunoblotting. Heatmap visualization of autoantibody scores, along with principal components analysis clustering, demonstrated strong, mutually exclusive relationships between CENP, RNAP III, and topo I. Five patient clusters were identified: CENP, RNAP III strong, RNAP III weak, topo I, and other. Clinical features associated with CENP, RNAP III, and topo I were consistent with previously published reports concerning limited cutaneous and diffuse cutaneous SSc. A novel finding was the statistical separation of RNAP III into 2 clusters. Patients in the RNAP III strong cluster had an increased risk of gastric antral vascular ectasia, but a lower risk of esophageal dysmotility. Patients in the other cluster were more likely to be male and to have a history of smoking and a history of malignancy, but were less likely to have telangiectasia, Raynaud's phenomenon, and joint contractures.

Conclusion: Five major autoantibody clusters with specific clinical and serologic associations were identified in Australian SSc patients. Subclassification and disease stratification using autoantibodies may have clinical utility, particularly in early disease.

History

Publication title

Arthritis & Rheumatology

Volume

67

Issue

12

Pagination

3234-3244

ISSN

2326-5191

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Place of publication

United States

Rights statement

Copyright 2015 American College of Rheumatology

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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