Studies On Anti-endothelial Cell Antibodies In Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura And Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) are a heterogeneous group of antibodies directed against a variety of endothelial structure and AECA have been shown to mediate different effects that can be pivotal in vasculitis. AECA in 41 patients with SLE, 76 patients with ITP and 50 normal persons were detected by ELISA method. Our results show that AECA in patients with SLE and with ITP are much higher than that of normal persons (P<0.01), AECA in patients with SLE are much higher than that of ITP(P<0.01). These results suggest that detecting AECA might be helpful for differentiating SLE and ITP. αvβ3 is expressed on vascular endothelial cells and platelets etc. In addition , αvβ3 is the major integrin on endothelial cells and has been implicated in many functional responses of endothelial cell adhesion, proliferation and migration. Anti-αvβ3 antibody in 25 patients with SLE, 25 patients with ITP and 20 normal persons were detected by Modified Antigen Capture ELISA( MACE) method. Our results suggest anti-αvβ3 antibody in patients with SLE and with ITP are much higher than that of normal persons (P<0.01), anti-αvβ3 antibody in patientswith SLE are higher than that of ITP(P<0.05). These results suggest that detecting anti-αvβ3 antibody might be helpful for differentiating SLE and ITP. In our study we also compare AECA and anti-αvβ3 antibody in 15 patients with SLE,AECA and anti-αvβ3 antibody in 16 patients with ITP respectively. The data reveal that there is a close association of AECA and anti-αvβ3 antibody in SLE (P<0.05) , while there is no correlation in ITP (P>0.05) .These results suggest AECA and anti-αvβ3 antibody play important roles in SLE and anti-αvβ3 antibody is directed against αvβ3 located in the membrane of endothelial cells, while anti-αvβ3 antibody may be directed against αvβ3 located in the membrane of platelet in ITP.