ANTIBODIES TO THE MINOR CARTILAGE COLLAGEN TYPE-IX IN OTOSCLEROSIS

The presence of antibodies to collagens type I, II, III, VI, IX, and X I was studied in patients with otosclerosis, using enzyme-linked immun osorbent assays. Levels of antibodies to collagens type II and IX were significantly higher in these patients as compared to sex- and age-ma tched control subjects, whereas no differences were found between the levels of antibodies to collagens type I, III, VI, and XI. These obser vations for the first time document the presence of autoantibodies aga inst a minor collagen type IX in patients with otosclerosis and suppor t a possible role for collagen autoimmunity in the etiology of otoscle rosis.