Endothelial cell autoantibodies are a marker of disease susceptibility in inflammatory bowel disease but apparently not linked to persistent measles virus infection

Intestinal vasculitis caused by persistent measles virus infection of intes tinal endothelial cells was described in Crohn's disease. Furthermore, endo thelial cell autoantibodies have been demonstrated in inflammatory bowel di sease (IBD). Autoantibodies against intestinal endothelial cells were visua lized by indirect immunofluorescence in patients with IBD, in their healthy first-degree relatives, in patients with infectious enterocolitis, and in healthy, unrelated controls. In intestinal tissue specimens of 22 antibody- positive IBD patients a search for the measles virus genome was performed. Endothelial cell autoantibodies were significantly more frequent in patient s with IBD, in both groups of first-degree relatives, and in patients with infectious enterocolitis than in the healthy controls (P = 0.0002 or less). The measles virus genome was found in none of the intestinal biopsies. End othelial cell autoantibodies are not a genetic but rather an epigenetic (in fectious) marker of disease susceptibility. The expression of these autoant ibodies is unlikely to be triggered by a persistent measles virus infection . (C) 2000 Academic Press.