Antibodies specific to Ferritin, light polypeptide (FTL) are frequently
detected in Immunorelated Pancytopenia patients
Abstract
Immuno-related pancytopenia (IRP) is featured by pancytopenia resulting
from bone marrow suppression or destruction mediated by autoantibodies
(auto-Abs). In a previous study we have established a K562 cDNA library,
which was applied in screening 7 possible autoantigens produced by
hematopoietic cells in IRP patients, including FTL. In this study FTL
was expressed and purified, and then we detected the level of the
auto-Abs specific to FTL. Through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA), it is revealed that the titer of anti–FTL antibodies (FTL Abs)
was higher in IRP patients without treatment compared with those who
recovered from IRP, those with severe aplastic anemia(SAA), those with
myelodyplastic syndrome(MDS) and healthy controls. Furthermore, the
level of FTL-mRNA was up-regulated in IRP patients without treatment
compared with those who recovered from IRP, MDS patients and normal
controls. These findings indicate that FTL Abs are highly expressed in
IRP patients. Detecting FTL Abs might have some clinical value in
differentiating IRP from SAA and MDS. Moreover, in certain type of IRP
patients, FTL, as an autoantigen, may induce immune attack on
hematopoietic stem cells.