Arthritis Research & Therapy (Dec 2022)

Low disease activity of microscopic polyangiitis in patients with anti-myosin light chain 6 antibody that disrupts actin rearrangement necessary for neutrophil extracellular trap formation

  • Miku Yoshinari,
  • Yuka Nishibata,
  • Sakiko Masuda,
  • Daigo Nakazawa,
  • Utano Tomaru,
  • Yoshihiro Arimura,
  • Koichi Amano,
  • Yukio Yuzawa,
  • Ken-Ei Sada,
  • Tatsuya Atsumi,
  • Hiroaki Dobashi,
  • Hitoshi Hasegawa,
  • Masayoshi Harigai,
  • Seiichi Matsuo,
  • Hirofumi Makino,
  • Akihiro Ishizu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-022-02974-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Background Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are critically involved in microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) pathogenesis, and some patients with MPA possess anti-NET antibody (ANETA). Anti-myosin light chain 6 (MYL6) antibody is an ANETA that affects NETs. This study aimed to determine the significance of anti-MYL6 antibody in MPA. Methods The influence of anti-MYL6 antibody on NET formation and actin rearrangement necessary for NET formation was assessed by fluorescent staining. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was established to detect serum anti-MYL6 antibody, and the prevalence of this antibody in MPA was determined. Furthermore, the disease activity and response to remission-induction therapy of MPA were compared between anti-MYL6 antibody-positive and anti-MYL6 antibody-negative MPA patients. Results Anti-MYL6 antibody disrupted G-actin polymerization into F-actin, suppressing phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced NET formation. Serum anti-MYL6 antibody was detected in 7 of 59 patients with MPA. The Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) of anti-MYL6 antibody-positive MPA patients was significantly lower than anti-MYL6 antibody-negative MPA patients. Among the nine BVAS evaluation items, the cutaneous, cardiovascular, and nervous system scores of anti-MYL6 antibody-positive MPA patients were significantly lower than anti-MYL6 antibody-negative MPA patients, although other items, including the renal and chest scores, were equivalent between the two groups. The proportion of patients with remission 6 months after initiation of remission-induction therapy in anti-MYL6 antibody-positive MPA patients was significantly higher than in anti-MYL6 antibody-negative MPA patients. Conclusions Collective findings suggested that anti-MYL6 antibody disrupted actin rearrangement necessary for NET formation and could reduce the disease activity of MPA.

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