The level of BLyS (BAFF) correlates with the titre of autoantibodies in human Sjögren’s syndrome

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2003-02, Vol.62 (2), p.168-171
• Main Authors: Mariette, X, Roux, S, Zhang, J, Bengoufa, D, Lavie, F, Zhou, T, Kimberly, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Antinuclear - blood; Antigens; autoantibodies; Autoantibodies - blood; Autoimmune diseases; Autoimmune Diseases - immunology; B lymphocyte stimulator; B-Cell Activating Factor; Biological and medical sciences; BLyS; bovine serum albumin; BSA; Disease; ELISA; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Extended Report; horseradish peroxidase; HRP; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Immunoglobulins - blood; Lupus; Medical sciences; Membrane Proteins - blood; Patients; PBS; phosphate buffered saline; rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatoid Factor - blood; Rodents; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Sjogren's Syndrome - immunology; Sjögren’s syndrome; SLE; Statistical analysis; systemic lupus erythematosus; TNF; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; tumour necrosis factor
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.62.2.168

Background: Increased levels of B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) have been detected in serum from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Objective: To determine the level of BLyS in serum from patients with primary’s Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), another autoimmune disease in which B cell activation is high. Methods: Serum samples from 49 patients with primary SS according to the revised European criteria were assayed for BLyS, quantitative immunoglobulins, and autoantibody levels and compared with samples from 47 healthy control subjects. Results: The median level of BLyS was 5.99 ng/ml (25th-75th centile range 3.20–8.93 ng/ml) in SS v 2.49 ng/ml (25th-75th centile range 1.96–2.96 ng/ml) in healthy controls (p