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Anti-interleukin 1α autoantibodies
  1. P Miossec
  1. Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, 69437 Lyon Cedex 03, France
  1. Correspondence to:
    miossec{at}univ-lyon1.fr

https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.61.7.577

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    A natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

    Prognostic markers are greatly needed to detect patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at high risk of developing a destructive form of the disease as this may influence the choice of early treatment. Among the cytokines produced by the inflammatory synovium, interleukin 1 (IL1) appears to have a predominant role in joint destruction. Specific regulation of IL1 involves natural mechanisms, including soluble IL1 receptors, IL1 receptor antagonist (IL1ra), and anti-IL antibodies.1,2 Autoantibodies directed against cytokines were first described in 1989 as being mostly of the IgG isotype and binding with high affinity mainly to IL1α.

    It is easy to imagine that defects in this natural regulation may contribute to changes in disease incidence and severity. However, definite demonstration of this association needs confirmation from different studies. With reference to the new study published in this issue of the Annals,3 we will focus on the effect of autoantibodies to IL1α on disease presentation.

    METHODS OF DETECTION

    The classical way of detecting antibodies to IL1α is by a precipitation method, in which antibodies bind the radiolabelled human [125I]IL1α.4 The antibody-cytokine complex is then precipitated with polyethylene glycol (PEG). After centrifugation, radioactivity is measured in the pellet. Levels of antibodies are calculated as the percentage of [125I]IL1α precipitated.

    Protein G immunoprecipitation is more specific than PEG precipitation, which allows precipitation of other than IgG complexes.5 It is antibody specific, binding to all IgG subclasses. In addition, it prevents interactions with other IL1 regulatory molecules, such as soluble IL1 receptors, IL1, or IL1ra. Antibodies can also be detected by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in which the cytokine bound to the ELISA plate is incubated with serum or plasma.6 After washes, the antibody bound to the cytokine is detected with …

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