Autoantibodies to IL-1α in Sera from Umbilical Cords, Children, and Adults, and from Patients with Juvenile Chronic Arthritis

Abstract

Antibodies against interleukin-1 α (aAb-IL-1α) have previously been demonstrated in sera of healthy adults and in patients with inflammatory diseases. In the present investigation the occurrence of aAb-IL-1α was examined by second antibody precipitation technique in sera from umbilical cords (n = ll), children (n=45), and adults (n = 20), as well as in 51 patients with juvenile chronic arthrtis (JCA) of pauciarticular (n = 34), polyarticular (n = 8), or systemic onset type (n = 9).

Results: The frequency of positive sera was significantly lower in children than in cord blood and adults as were the levels of aAb-IL-1α (p < 0.0001). In the non-neonatal group of individuals the levels of aAb-IL-1α correlated positively with age (r = 0.394, p = 0.0015). The frequency of sera positive for aAb-IL-1α was higher in the JCA patients, as were the levels (p < 0.005), and correlated positively with disease activity as evaluated by joint score and visual analogue score.

Key Words:

• juvenile chronic arthritis
• cord blood
• children
• adults
• autoantibody
• serum
• IL-1α