Immunoblot analysis of IgM, IgG, and IgA responses to plasmid encoded released proteins of Yersinia enterocolitica in patients with or without yersinia triggered reactive arthritis.

Abstract

SUMMARY The IgM, IgG, and IgA antibody responses of patients with Yersinia enterocolitica 0:3 infection were studied by immunoblotting with plasmid encoded released proteins of Y enterocolitica as the antigens. The results indicate that antibodies of all three classes are most consistently directed against the proteins of molecular weights 25 000 and 36 000. Less than two months after the onset of infection 18 of the 19 patients with yersinia triggered reactive arthritis had IgA class antibodies against the released protein of mol. wt 36 000, whereas only eight of the 17 patients with non-arthritic yersiniosis had these antibodies. The same difference between the arthritic and non-arthritic patients was observed also 8-12 months after the onset of infection.Yersinia enterocolitica is an important causative agent of enteric infections in humans. Occasionally, this primary infection triggers secondary complications such as reactive arthritis. 1-3 The mechanisms of the development of yersinia triggered arthritis are not known, but evidently both host related and bacteria related factors are involved.Human pathogenic strains of the genus Yersinia harbour closely related plasmids of 42-46 megadaltons. Association of the plasmid with the bacterial virulence is firmly established. Several temperature induced outer membrane proteins have been found to be plasmid mediated in Ypseudotuberculosis and Y enterocolitica.4 5 Virulent strains of enteropathogenic yersiniae are also known to release plasmid associated proteins to the surrounding medium when grown in calcium deficient conditions at 370C.6 It seems that at least some of the temperature induced outer membrane proteins share antigenic determinants or are identical with the released proteins; these proteins are either integrated into the outer membrane or released to the surrounding medium, depending on the growth conditions used.

Application of the polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence techniques to the detection of bacteria in Yersinia‐triggered reactive arthritis

“…However, there is little reason to assume that a plasmidless Y entrrocolitica 0 : 3 would exist in the joints, since the Yersinia persisting in the gut during the chronic stage of infection express plasmid-encoded proteins, indicating the presence of the virulence plasmid (6). Furthermore, immunoblotting analyses with sera of arthritis patients have revealed that the persisting antibody response is directed against a multitude of bacterial epitopes, including plasmid-coded antigens (22,23).…”

Evaluation of a Western Blot Method for the Detection of Yersinia Antibodies: Evidence of Serological Cross-Reactivity between Yersinia Outer Membrane Proteins and Borrelia burgdorferi

“…In cases of chronic enteritis, IgA antibodies develop against YopE (23 kDa), YopD (35 kDa), and YopB (41 kDa). IgA antibodies against YopD develop in 90% of reactive arthritis cases (7,26,27). IgG antibodies develop against all outer membrane proteins of Yersinia; but they develop more frequently against YopE (23 kDa), YopB (41 kDa), YopD (35 kDa), and YopH (51 kDa) (8,11,21).…”

Ciprofloxacin v placebo for treatment of Yersinia enterocolitica triggered reactive arthritis

“…By the second month disappearance of the organism was already clearly associated with the disappearance and decrease of IgA antibodies, whereas persistence of the organism in untreated and treated patients was associated with prolonged circulation of specific IgA antibodies. It was already known from earlier studies1 2 10 that patients with yersinia triggered arthritis have more antibodies, which remain for longer, than patients with uncomplicated yersinia infections.…”