In this study, 1,833 systemic sclerosis (SSc) cases and 3,466 controls were genotyped with the Immunochip array. Classical alleles, amino acid residues, and SNPs across the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region were imputed and tested. These analyses resulted in a model composed of six polymorphic amino acid positions and seven SNPs that explained the observed significant associations in the region. In addition, a replication step comprising 4,017 SSc cases and 5,935 controls was carried out for several selected non-HLA variants, reaching a total of 5,850 cases and 9,401 controls of European ancestry. Following this strategy, we identified and validated three SSc risk loci, including DNASE1L3 at 3p14, the SCHIP1-IL12A locus at 3q25, and ATG5 at 6q21, as well as a suggested association of the TREH-DDX6 locus at 11q23. The associations of several previously reported SSc risk loci were validated and further refined, and the observed peak of association in PXK was related to DNASE1L3. Our study has increased the number of known genetic associations with SSc, provided further insight into the pleiotropic effects of shared autoimmune risk factors, and highlighted the power of dense mapping for detecting previously overlooked susceptibility loci.

Early mortality in SSc is substantial, and prevalent cohorts underestimate mortality in SSc by failing to capture early deaths, particularly in men and those with diffuse disease.

The objective was to investigate the frequency of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) antibodies in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), utilizing a new "third generation" anti-CCP ELISA (anti-CCP3) kit and a conventional anti-CCP2 assay. Patients with PBC, SSc, RA, and normal controls were included in the study. Serum samples were screened for autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), antibodies to CCP by a second- and third-generation ELISA, antibodies to "scleroderma" antigens (CENP B, Scl-70, PM/Scl and fibrillarin-Scl-34) by a line immunoassay (LIA), and IgM RF by ELISA. The frequency of anti-CCP2 antibodies in SSc and PBC samples was 14.8% (11/74) and 6.2% (5/80), respectively, and the frequency of anti-CCP3 antibodies in SSc was 13.5% (10/74) and in PBC was 3.7% (3/80). By comparison, in the RA group the frequency of anti-CCP3 and anti-CCP2 antibodies was 79.1% (38/48) and 77% (37/48), respectively. Anti-CCP3 ELISA had a sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR) of 79% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 64-89%), 93% (95% CI = 88-96%), 11.8 (95% CI = 6.8-20.3), and 0.22 (95% CI = 0.12-0.38), respectively. By comparison, the anti-CCP2 assay had a sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative LRs of 77% (95% CI = 62-87), 90% (95% CI = 85-94), 8.3 (95% CI = 5.2-13.2), and 0.25 (95% CI = 0.15-0.42), respectively. In patients with SSc, there was an association of anti-CCP2 antibodies with the presence of arthritis, but there was no association of anti-CCP2 or anti-CCP3 with anti-CENP B, anti-Scl 70, or RF. This study confirmed the high specificity and sensitivity of both anti-CCP assays for the diagnosis of RA. The presence of anti-CCP antibodies in SSc was only correlated with the presence of arthritis.

Objective To examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients without antinuclear antibodies (ANA) compared to ANA positive patients. Methods SSc patients enrolled in the Scleroderma Family Registry and DNA Repository were included. Relevant demographic and clinical data were entered by participating sites or obtained by chart review. ANA and SSc related antibodies were determined in all investigated patients using commercially available kits at our laboratories. Results This study included 3249 patients, of whom 208 (6.4%) were ANA negative. The proportion of male patients was higher in the ANA negative group (OR 1.65; p=0.008). ANA negative patients experienced less vasculopathic manifestations of SSc. The percent predicted diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLco) was higher in ANA negative patients (p=0.03). Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) per right heart catheterization was less common in the ANA negative group (OR= 0.28; p=0.03). Furthermore, patients with negative ANA had a lower prevalence of telangiectasias and digital ulcers/pits (OR= 0.59; p=0.03 and OR=0.38; p=0.01, respectively). Although diffuse cutaneous involvement was more common, the modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) was lower in the ANA negative group (2.4 points lower, p=0.05). Furthermore, they experienced more malabsorption (p=0.05). There was no difference in the frequency of pulmonary fibrosis or scleroderma renal crisis. All-cause mortality was not different between the two groups (p=0.28). Conclusions In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that SSc patients who are ANA negative constitute a distinct subset of SSc with less vasculopathy (less PAH, digital ulcers and fewer telangiectasias), a greater proportion of males and possibly, more frequent lower gastrointestinal involvement.

Ischaemia may play a role in the development of calcinosis in SSc.