HIGH-LEVELS OF ANTIBODIES TO ANNEXIN-V AND ANNEXIN-VI IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Objective. Glucocorticoids are powerful antiinflammatory agents widely used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Synthesis and/or secretion of annexin I (A-I) is induced by these steroids. Annexins V and VI are also found extracellularly but are not induced by glucocor ticoids. Annexins may be potent antagonists of phospholipase A(2) (PLA (2)). Since autoantibodies to A-I have been reported in patients with RA, we studied the reactivity of sera from patients with RA to A-V and A-VI. Methods. Sera from 26 patients with RA were assessed for anti-A -V and anti-A-VI antibodies and compared with sera from 26 sex/age mat ched healthy subjects, IgG and IgM antibodies were analyzed in an ELIS A. A correlation study with disease activity and corticosteroid treatm ent schedule was performed. Results. Sera from patients with RA contai ned significantly higher levels of IgG [anti-A-V and anti-A-VI] autoan tibodies than control sera, both being correlated. This rise in antian nexin antibody titers was correlated with the RA activity score, and n egatively correlated with the daily dose of corticosteroids.Conclusion . High levels of IgG (anti-A-V and anti-A-VI) antibodies were found in sera from patients with RA. We suggest that antiannexin autoantibodie s may play a role in the clinical course of RA by impairing the anti-P LA(2) effect of annexins.