Auto-antibodies directed against ECs and VSMCs in serum of GCA patients detected

A study using mass spectrometry (MS) has been undertaken to try and detect auto-antibodies directed against endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the serum of GCA patients.

Experts took sera from 15 patients in five different pools and compared these to a control of 12 healthy specimens.

Electrophoresis and immunoblotting was then used to test the reactivity of serum immunoglobulin-G with antigens which were taken from human umbilical vein ECs and mammary artery VSMCs.

It was found that 30 spots from HUVECs and 19 from VSMCs were recognised by around two-thirds and three-fifths of the pools of GCA patients' sera and not by sera from HCs.

In conclusion, while a potential pathogenic role was not determined, it was reported that IgG antibodies to proteins in the proteome of EC and VSMC were found to be present in the serum of the GCA patients.

Serum is home to all antibodies, antigens, hormones and proteins not used in coagulation.