Anti-vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) antibodies are associated with neuropsychiatric disorders in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by multi-organ involvement and the presence of autoantibodies, pathogenic factors that can serve as diagnostic biomarkers. The current research has been focusing on exploring specific autoantigens with clinical relevance for SLE subtypes. In line with this objective, this study investigated potential antigenic targets associated with specific phenotypes in SLE by leveraging an omics-based approach combined with immunoassay techniques. Methods: A transcriptomic analysis was conducted in a cohort of 70 SLE patients to identify genes significantly correlated to the relevant phenotype. Epitope mapping and sequence analysis techniques were used to predict autoantigens, and the corresponding antibodies were subsequently quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and validated by Western blot. Results: Transcriptomic data analysis revealed a group of hub genes exhibiting a significant correlation with the neuropsychiatric phenotype and a positive relationship with platelets. Subsequent epitope prediction for the corresponding proteins highlighted vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) as a potential autoantigen. Moreover, ELISA and immunoblotting confirmed that the anti-VASP antibody present in the serum was significantly elevated in SLE patients with neuropsychiatric involvement and positively associated with demyelination. Conclusion: VASP harbors autoantigenic epitopes associated with neuropsychiatric phenotype, especially the demyelination symptom in SLE, and its antibodies may serve as promising biomarkers in this disease.

Keywords

• Neuropsychiatric involvement
• Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein
• Neo-antigen
• Autoimmunity