Anti-Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetases Antibodies in Japanese Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease

Abstract

Objectives: In the present study, we have sought to establish the clinical and immunological characteristics of Japanese patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Methods: Serum samples from 35 patients of ILD were screened for autoantibodies using RNA and protein immunoprecipitation assays. Patients with or without serum antibodies to aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (ARS) were assessed clinically and compared. Results: Sera from 12 of 35 (34%) patients with ILD (mean age at onset = 49.7 yrs; range 27 - 65 yrs) were found to contain anti-ARS antibodies (anti-EJ: 3 patients; anti-OJ: 2 patients; anti-PL-12: 3 patients; anti-KS: 4 patients). Nine of the 12 (75%) were female. Six (50%) had Raynaud’s phenomenon, 5 (42%) had arthralgia/arthritis and four (33%) had rheumatoid factor. Lung biopsy specimens of 8 patients with anti-ARS antibodies were examined histologically in detail. The following was determined: Two patients had usual interstitial pneumonia; 3 had non-specific interstitial pneumonia; one had organizing pneumonia; one had lymphocyte interstitial pneumonia and the remaining patient had desquamative interstitial pneumonia. Age at disease onset was significantly lower and the frequency of Raynaud’s phenomenon was significantly greater in these patients compared to anti-ARS-negative patients (49.7 yrs vs. 62.6 yrs, p = 0.004; 50% vs. 4%, p = 0.003, respectively). Conclusions: These results indicate that the presence of anti-ARS autoantibodies correlates with ILD without definite diagnosis of connective tissue diseases as well as polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) with ILD in Japanese patients.