Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antibodies as a new marker of dry eye Sjögren syndrome.

摘要: PURPOSE. The authors investigated whether circulating autoantibodies against M 3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) could be a new marker for diagnosis primary and secondary Sjogren syndrome (SS) dry eye. METHODS. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using both rat exorbital lacrimal gland acinar cell membranes synthetic 25-mer peptide as antigens was used to determine cells mAChRs. Also, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity assessed the biological effect of these in relation mAChR. RESULTS. Sera from eye SS (pSS) or (sSS) patients tested by ELISA recognized membrane peptide, corresponding second extracellular loop human Moreover, IgG fraction affinity-purified anti-M same were able activate NOS coupled As controls, sera women without with rheumatoid arthritis normal control subjects gave negative results on assay; thus demonstrating specificity reaction. CONCLUSIONS. Autoantibodies mAChR may considered among serum factors implicated pathophysiology development pSS eyes differentiate non-SS eyes.