IgA yersinia antibodies in yersinia arthritis

Abstract

We have followed the appearance and persistence of yersinia antibodies of different Ig classes during and after an acute yersinia infection, and compared the antibody responses of patients either developing arthritis after yersinia infection or not. The arthritic patients had higher concentration of IgG and IgA class antibodies in the acute phase of infection than those remaining free of joint symptoms. On the other hand, the concentration of lgM class antibodies was slightly lower in arthritic patients. In addition, IgG and IgA class antibodies persisted in arthritic patients even for many years. The level and the persistence of the IgA, but not the IgG, response correlated to HLA-B27. In all patients the IgA class antibodies are composed of both IgAI- and lgA2-class immunoglobulins. However, anti-yersinia secretory IgA was detected in higher concentrations in the sera of those who developed arthritis. This as well as the high proportional concentration of lgA2 antibodies to Yersinia in the sera of these patients suggest an altered immune response of the gut in yersinia arthritis.

Key Words:

• yersinia
• secretory IgA antibody
• ELISA
• reactive arthritis