Humoral Anti-Endotoxin Immunity Imbalance as a Probable Factor in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract

The concentrations of serum anti-endotoxin antibodies (LPS-ABs) of different classes and class M and class G autoantibodies (AABs) to native high-molecular-weight DNA and denatured single-stranded DNA were assayed in 28 patients with acantholytic pemphigus. Statistically significant abnormalities of humoral anti-endotoxin immunity (AEI) were observed in the patients and included a significant decrease in class M LPS-ABs with normal levels of class A and class G LPS-ABs; the decrease was not associated with any change in the concentrations of total immunoglobulins of the same classes. Approximately 30% of the patients showed significant increases in class G AABs to denatured single-stranded DNA and native high-molecular-weight DNA. The levels of class M and class G LPS-ABs were in a strong inverse correlation with the levels of class G AABs to native high-molecular-weight DNA in this patient group. A cluster analysis showed that impaired AEI closely correlated with activity of autoimmune processes in the patients with acantholytic pemphigus. The findings were assumed indirectly implicate LPS in the development and progression of autoimmune disorders.