Detection of anti-ADAM 10 antibody in serum of a patient with pulmonary fibrosis associated with dermatomyositis
- aFirst Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical University, Kagawa, Japan, bSecond Department of Pathology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi, Japan
- Dr J Fujita, First Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical University, 1750–1, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, 761–0793, Japan.
- Accepted 21 July 1999
Abstract
OBJECTIVES It has been suggested that the humoral immune system plays a part in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Although circulating autoantibodies to lung protein(s) have been suggested, few lung proteins have been characterised. The purpose of this study is to determine the antigen recognised by serum of a patient with pulmonary fibrosis associated with dermatomyositis.
METHODS To accomplish this, anti-small airway epithelial cell (SAEC) antibody in a patient's serum was evaluated using a western immunoblot.
RESULTS An autoantibody against SAEC was found, and the antigen had a molecular weight of 62 kDa. Using the patient's serum, clones from the normal lung cDNA library were screened and demonstrated that anti-SAEC antibody in the patient's serum was against ADAM (A disintegrin and metalloprotease) 10.
CONCLUSION This is the first report that demonstrates the existence of anti-ADAM 10 antibody in a patient with pulmonary fibrosis associated with dermatomyositis.
