Sputum autoantibodies in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.
J Allergy Clin Immunol 2017;
141:1269-1279. [PMID:
28751233 DOI:
10.1016/j.jaci.2017.06.033]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The persistence of eosinophils in sputum despite high doses of corticosteroids indicates disease severity in asthmatic patients. Chronic inflamed airways can lose tolerance over time to immunogenic entities released on frequent eosinophil degranulation, which further contributes to disease severity and necessitates an increase in maintenance corticosteroids.
OBJECTIVES
We sought to investigate the possibility of a polyclonal autoimmune event in the airways of asthmatic patients and to identify associated clinical and molecular characteristics.
METHODS
The presence of autoantibodies against eosinophil peroxidase (EPX) and anti-nuclear antibodies was investigated in patients with eosinophilic asthma maintained on high-dose corticosteroids, prednisone, or both. The ability of sputum immunoglobulins to induce eosinophil degranulation in vitro was assessed. In addition, the associated inflammatory microenvironment in patients with detectable autoantibodies was examined.
RESULTS
We report a "polyclonal" autoimmune event occurring in the airways of prednisone-dependent asthmatic patients with increased eosinophil activity, recurrent pulmonary infections, or both, as evident by the concomitant presence of sputum anti-EPX and anti-nuclear antibodies of the IgG subtype. Extensive cytokine profiling of sputum revealed a TH2-dominated microenvironment (eotaxin-2, IL-5, IL-18, and IL-13) and increased signalling molecules that support the formation of ectopic lymphoid structures (B-cell activating factor and B cell-attracting chemokine 1). Immunoprecipitated sputum immunoglobulins from patients with increased autoantibody levels triggered eosinophil degranulation in vitro, with release of extensive histone-rich extracellular traps, an event unsuppressed by dexamethasone and possibly contributing to the steroid-unresponsive nature of these eosinophilic patients.
CONCLUSION
This study identifies an autoimmune endotype of severe asthma that can be identified by the presence of sputum autoantibodies against EPX and autologous cellular components.
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