ANTI- ANNEXIN 1 ANTIBODIES CORRELATION BETWEEN ANTIBODIES LEVEL AND DISEASE ACTIVITY IN SOME AUTOIMMUNE CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES

Abstract

Annexin 1 is an anti-inflammatory protein, exerts a regulatory effect in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Autoantibodies against annexin 1 have been recognized in some patients with autoimmune connective tissue diseases. Aim: to detect presence of anti-annexin 1 antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, systemic and discoid lupus erythematosus and to evaluate whether there is a correlation between the antibodies levels and disease activity. Methods: determining the levels of IgM antibodies in serum samples by ELISA and correlating them with the disease activity, which is evaluated using specific activity index for each disease. Results: levels of anti- annexin 1 antibodies were found to be significantly higher in diseased groups when compared to normal healthy controls. When correlating antibodies levels with disease activity, rheumatoid arthritis and discoid lupus patients showed no significant correlation, however systemic lupus and scleroderma patients showed significant correlation between antibodies levels and disease activity. Conclusion: anti- annexin 1 antibodies might be a promising aid in diagnosis of these diseases and could have a prognostic capacity in some autoimmune connective tissue diseases.
Key words: Annexin 1- autoantibodies- autoimmune connective tissue diseases.