Anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies in serum and saliva of patients with Sjogren's syndrome

Abstract

Autoantibodies to SSA/Ro and SSB/La antigens may have a pathogenic role in photosensitive skin disease and congenital complete heart block. Since salivary glands are the major target organ in Sjogren's syndrome (SS) we wondered whether these autoantibodies are present in saliva and may be involved in the sicca syndrome. Whole saliva and serum were collected from 15 patients with SS. Elisa analysis disclosed that 8 of the patients had anti-SSA/Ro antibodies, while 6 of them also had anti-SSB/La antibodies. Studies of immunoglobulin classes showed that the sera contained mainly IgG and IgM anti-SSA/Ro or SSB/La antibodies. One serum also contained IgA antibodies. Analysis of the saliva showed that in all positive samples IgG and IgA classes were present, while none of them contained IgM. Elisa and immunoblot analysis of sera and saliva from SLE patients without the sicca syndrome disclosed that both fluids contained anti-Sm antibodies. These findings suggest that the presence of anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies in saliva is not a unique phenomenon, characterizing the sicca syndrome. Therefore, their role in the pathogenicity of the Sjogren's syndrome has to be elucidated.

Salivary proteins in rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome: One-dimensional and two-dimensional electrophoretic studies

“…Salivary kallikrein activity is increased in both Sjögren©s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis [21,54]. Despite the changes in salivary composition associated with Sjögren©s syndrome, none are disease-specific and although the salivary antibodies normally associated with this disorder, including rheumatoid factor [11±13], anti-SS-A(Ro) and anti-SS-B(La) [8,10,12,20] are of considerable diagnostic value, additional disease-specific criteria are still needed. Equivalent studies on saliva from rheumatoid arthritis patients are only currently coming to the fore.…”

Human body fluid proteome analysis

“…Saliva autoantibodies, e.g., anti-Ro/SS-A, anti-La/SS-B, and anti-alpha-fodrin, have been applied to SS detection in clinical setting [394,395]. Recently, parotid salivary markers were discovered for SS using SELDI-TOF-MS and 2-D-DIGE.…”

Anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibodies in the tear fluid of patients with Sjogren's syndrome

“…12 Anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies have been demonstrated previously in the saliva of SS patients. [13][14][15] In addition, anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibody producing cells were found in the labial salivary glands of SS patients. 16 17 However, the presence of these autoantibodies has not been studied in the tear fluid of patients with SS.…”