Pitfalls of doing ANA immunofluorescence Can we define ”false positive”?

Pitfalls of doing ANA
immunofluorescence
Can we define ”false positive”?
Can we define ”false negative”?
Can results be compared between labs?
Amsterdam March 2011
AW 2011
Background: HEp-2 IIF
Current literature and reports from laboratories
on different IIF HEp-2 cell staining patterns is
commoly use often rather primitive terms e.g.
Homogeneous ANA
Can not be
Speckled ANA
linked with
Nucleolar ANA
a disease
Mitotic spindle staining
phenotype!
Cytoplasmic staining
AW 2011
Proposed taxonomy of HEp-2 cell staining patterns
elaborated in our EU CANTOR project 1998-2000
Membranous nuclear patterns:
– Smooth membranous nuclear
– Punctate membranous nuclear
Nucleoplasmic patterns:
– Homogeneous nucleoplasmic
– Large speckled nucleoplasmic
– Coarse speckled nucleoplasmic
– Fine speckled nucleoplasmic
– Fine grainy nucleoplasmic
– Pleomorphic speckled (PCNA)
– Centromere
– Multiple nuclear dots
– Coiled bodies (few nuclear dots)
Nucleolar patterns:
– Homogeneous nucleolar
– Clumpy nucleolar
– Punctate nucleolar
Spindle apparatus patterns:
– Centriole (centrosome)
– Spindle pole (NuMa)(MSA-1)
– Spindle fibre
– Midbody (MSA-2)
– CENP-F (MSA-3)
Cytoplasmic patterns:
– Diffuse cytoplasmic
– Fine speckled cytoplasmic
– Mitochondrial-like
– Lysosomal-like
– Golgi
– Contact proteins
– Vimentin-like
Negative
Undeterminable
Wiik A. et al. J.Autoimmun. 2010
AW 2011
IIF staining patterns on HEp-2 cell substrate.
Membranous nuclear patterns:
– Smooth membranous nuclear
– Punctate membranous nuclear
Nucleoplasmic patterns:
– Homogeneous nucleoplasmic
pattern
– Large speckled nucleoplasmic
– Coarse speckled nucleoplasmic
– Fine speckled nucleoplasmic
– Fine grainy Scl-70 like
nucleoplasmic
– Pleomorphic speckled (antiPCNA)
– Centromere
– Multiple nuclear dots
– Coiled bodies (few nuclear dots)
Nucleolar patterns:
– Homogeneous nucleolar
– Clumpy nucleolar
– Punctate nucleolar
Spindle apparatus patterns:
– Centriole (centrosome)
– Spindle pole (NuMa)(MSA-1)
– Spindle fibre
– Midbody (MSA-2)
– CENP-F (MSA-3)
Cytoplasmic patterns:
– Diffuse cytoplasmic
– Fine speckled cytoplasmic
– Mitochondrial-like
– Lysosomal-like
– Golgi-like
– Contact proteins
– Vimentin-like
Negative
Undeterminable
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IIF versus different solid phase assays
Membranous nuclear patterns:
– Smooth membranous nuclear
– Punctate membranous nuclear
Nucleoplasmic patterns:
– Homogeneous nucleoplasmic
pattern
– Large speckled nucleoplasmic
– Coarse speckled nucleoplasmic
– Fine speckled nucleoplasmic
– Fine grainy Scl-70 like
nucleoplasmic
– Pleomorphic speckled (antiPCNA)
– Centromere
– Multiple nuclear dots
– Coiled bodies (few nuclear dots)
Nucleolar patterns:
– Homogeneous nucleolar
– Clumpy nucleolar
– Punctate nucleolar
Spindle apparatus patterns:
– Centriole (centrosome)
– Spindle pole (NuMa)(MSA-1)
– Spindle fibre
– Midbody (MSA-2)
– CENP-F (MSA-3)
Cytoplasmic patterns:
– Diffuse cytoplasmic
– Fine speckled cytoplasmic
– Mitochondrial-like
– Lysosomal-like
– Golgi-like
– Contact proteins
– Vimentin-like
Negative
Undeterminable
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Why use HEp-2 cells for
the screening technique?
– Only intact permeable cells contain all the relevant autoantigens
in situ and cells can be seen in different stages of division. But
the reactivity with autoantibodies depends on whether the right
conformational state of the antigen has been preserved.
– Morphological recognition of HEp-2 cell staining patterns using
one good HEp-2 cell substrate is a natural talent of many people:
The European multicenter study (CANTOR) proved that!
– Autoantigen mixtures coated on solid phase supports (ELISA
plates, beads, arrays etc.) are unsuited for recognition of a
number of diagnostically important single autoantigens.
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Relative percentage of positive results using
ELISA screen vs. IIF HEp-2cell screen
HEp-2 cells: set at 100%
ELISA
An example: SSA, SSB, Scl70, CENP-B, U1RNP,
U1RNP/Sm, Jo-1, histones,
dsDNA, ribosomal P, PMScl, fibrillarin, PCNA, Mi-2
Some assays:
additionally contain cell
extract of HEp-2 cells
Solid phase assays like ELISA thus
contain a limited no. of autoantigens
(10-14). But- these targets are wellknown for their clinical associations
with inflammatory rheumatic
diseases and therefore 70-80 % of sera
that are positive for ANA by IIF test
are also positive by ELISA screen..
Some exceptions: JCA, DM/PM, SSc
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Percentage of autoantigens in HEp-2
cell testing positive by screen ELISA
Nuclear and cytoplasmic
targets seen by IIF HEp-2
cell screen (set at 100%)
Relative percentage of IIF
nuclear and cytoplasmic
targets detected by
composite ELISA:
(about 10-15%!)
Many of these IIF staining
patterns have well-known
clinical associations!
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Screening for ANA using IIF technique
versus composite solid phase assay
SJS
SLE
SSC
MCTD
PM/DM
JCA
98
95
90
dsDNA
75
75
U1RNP
SSA/B
40
15
Each column represents IIF ANA positive sera
The bar shows the % sera found positive by ELISA
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Indirect immunofluorescence
Very sensitive
Broad screening potential
Fluorescence
Clinically
meaningful
cut-off setting
is crucial !
How do you
determine
such cut-off?
F
Fluorochrome
conjugate
”ANA”
HEp-2 cell
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Five main HEp-2 cellular regions
Nuclear envelope
Mitotic spindle
Nucleoplasm
Nucleoli
Cytoplasm
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Computer-assisted project to attain
an agreed HEp-2 cell nomenclature:
the EU-supported CANTOR project (1998-2000)
Aim: To attempt to bring order out of HEp-2 cell
terminological and conceptual chaos
– To harmonize existing nomenclature using previous
terms supplemented by description of visual
characteristics as illustrated on agreed reference
images
– To supplement terms with the exact location of the
stained structure(s) when necessary
– To set up a rational taxonomy for the terms
Wiik et al. 2010, J Autoimmun
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Substrate and images used
– All images had to be classified at two magnifications:
200 x and 400 x.
– All slides derived from one carefully selected batch of
HEp-2 cell slides from one provider.
– All laboratories used the same conjugate specific for
human γ-chains (DAKO, Glostrup, DK).
– All laboratories used incident light illumination
microscopes with objectives possessing high
numerical apertures for bright conjugate excitation
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Initial harmonization of terms
– The three expert centres digitized images found by routine
testing and brought them to sessions where 5 experts first
judged them with regard to photographic quality
– Images that were assumed to represent prototype staining
patterns were selected as accepted reference patterns for the
CANTOR study
– Positive and negative staining characteristics were noted
down and gradually agreed upon as new proposed and
accurate descriptions of each pattern for the study
– Each pattern was given a name that did not overlap with any
other terms used – among others stating the location of the
staining if that was felt needed (nucleus, cytoplasm, mitotic
spindle apparatus etc.)
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Example of reference image display
Large speckled nucleoplasmic
pattern (”nuclear matrix”)
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200 X
400 X
Another example
Coarse speckled
nucleoplasmic pattern
200 X
400 X
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Two rather similar IIF patterns
400 x
400 x
Meta-phase chromatin plate negative
Smooth membranous nuclear
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Punctate membranous nuclear
Example of textual help:
Nuclear membrane staining patterns
Smooth membranous staining pattern:
– -A smooth homogeneous ring-like
fluorescence of the nuclear
membrane in interphase cells.
-Some samples with strong
fluorescence may give an
impression of whole nuclear
staining
– -A similar pattern is seen in the
telophase cells.
-In metaphase cells the
fluorescence is diffusely localized
in the cytoplasm, and
chromosomal material is
unstained.
Punctate membranous staining pattern:
-A discontinuous punctate
fluorescence along the nuclear
membrane.
-On focusing through the nucleus the
punctate staining can be seen on the
surface of the entire nucleus.
-A similar pattern is seen in
telophase.
– -In metaphase the fluorescence is
diffusely localized throughout the
cytoplasm.
-Some samples with strong
antibodies may give an impression of
whole nuclear staining.
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Local and merged data
– All data from each classification and each
participant in each laboratory were recorded on
local computers using the DOORS software and
later merged into one common database.
– It was now possible to compare intra- and interobserver variability between persons, groups and
laboratories, calculate and compare kappa values
between individuals, groups and laboratories
using perceptometric tools of the software.
– Expert classifications earlier agreed on (facit list)
served as the key answers
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Sessions in the CANTOR project
Phases:
Inexper:
Experienced:
Experts:
Education
29 ref. Images
29 ref. images
N.A.
Baseline
40 images
40 images
40 images
Training 1
45 images
45 images
45 images
Training 2
45 images
45 images
45 images
Training 3
45 images
45 images
45 images
Exam
40 images
40 images
40 images
Between introduction of reference images, baseline test and the 3 training sessions graphic
2011
and statistical tools were used to illustrate results measured as a mean against theAW
experts.
Learning effect by computer-assisted
Delphi round training with software.
Kappa
1.00
100
95
0.90
Kappa value at
start of course
0.80
Kappa value at
end of course
74
0.70
12 Participants
T
E
E
T
E
T
T
N
T
N
T
T= trained, E= experienced, Non-experienced
N
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Homogeneous nucleoplasmic pattern
Reflex tests
Lab.test:
SLE, RA, JCA
Chromatin
constituents:
dsDNA, histones,
nucleosomes,
HMGs
Anti-dsDNA
Anti-histone
Anti-nucleosome
Anti-HMG
Farr assay,
Crithidia IF
ELISA
Line IA
SLE?
ELISA
Line IA
DI-LE?
ELISA
Line IA
SLE?
At present:
no assay
JCA?
Note that the choice of assay technique for anti-dsDNA has a strong
influence on the value for clinical interpretation and use!!!
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Pitfalls
– Homogeneous: some staining shows pos.,
others neg. nucleoli. The latter was named
”quasi-homogeneous” recently. Both are
associated with infl.rheum.dis. And are
chromatin pos. Some staining is reminiscent of
this with pos. chromatin plates, but gives a
very fine dense speckled pattern, directed to
LEDGF. Mariz et al. 2011. A+R.
– Many classify anti-topo 1 (anti-Scl 70) as
homogeneous with pos. nucleoli and pos.
chromatin, though the pattern is fine grainy.
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Anti-LEDGF: dense fine speckled
nucleoplasmic staining pattern
Mostly healthy individuals
No reflex test
available yet
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Pitfalls ctd.
– Large speckled staining is difficult to
distinguish from coarse speckled, but
the antigenic targets (hnRNPs, vs.
spliceosomes) and the disease
associations different.
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Coarse granular nucleoplasmic
pattern
MCTD, SLE
Assemblyosome
constituents:
Smith antigen
U1RNP
Reflex tests:
line-blot, ELISA,
haemagglutination
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Fine granular nucleoplasmic p.
Sjögren’s syndrome,
congenital heart block, SLE,
dermatomyositis,
healthy individuals
SSA/Ro, SSB/La,
Mi-2?
LEDGF?
Reflex tests:
ELISA,
line blot
Reflex tests:
RI Precipit.
At present no assay
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Anti-Mi-2 antibodies:
intermediate - fine speckled
Dermatomyositis
Reflex testing:
Radio-immunoprecipitation
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Control line: IgG
SmB
SmD
RNP-70
RNP-A
RNP-C
Ro 52
SSA/Ro 60
SSB/La
CENP-B
Scl-70
Jo-1
Ribo P
Histones
Conjugate
Serum +
conjugate
Line immuno-assay
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Some examples of HEp-2 cell staining
patterns and their most likely
relationship to cell biochemistry and
diagnostic entities
Pattern
Disease
Biochemistry
Most likely not recognized in a solid
phase presentation of mixed autoantigens
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Smooth membranous pattern
SLE,sero-negative RA
Sjögren’s syndrome
Anti-phospholipid syndrome
Lamins ABC
Integral membrane proteins
Note chromosomes
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Punctate membranous pattern
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Nuclear pore complexes
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Pleomorphic nuclear pattern (PCNA)
SLE, SjS
DNA polymerase
delta auxiliary
protein
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Multiple nuclear dots
Primary biliary cirrhosis
SLE
PML* body constituents:
Sp-100, PML protein, 56K
* Pro-myelocytic leukemia
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Spindle fibre pattern
SLE
HsEg 5
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CENP-F pattern
Malignancies (breast, lung, NHL, > 50 %.)
Centromere protein F
Note zipperlike staining
Note different
staining intensity
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Less common staining patterns
(Examples of ”esoteric antibodies”)
-Antibodies to Golgi complex: 6 known antigens
Indicate SjS 60%, SLE 20 % Ataxia 5%
-Antibodies to GW bodies: 8 known antigens
Indicate SjS 40%, Ataxia 35%, PBC 10%
-PCNA antibodies:
Indicate SLE 40%, other autoimmunity 60%
-Early endosome (EEA-1) antibodies:
Indicate Ataxia 30%
-CENP-F antibodies: 1 known large 367 kDa molecule (mitosin)
Indicate malignancies: 50 - 70% (breast, lung, NHL)
-Centrosome antibodies: 6 known antigens
Indicate SjS, SLE.
-Intracellular exosome antibodies: 7 known antigens
Indicate polymyositis/scleroderma overlap, Scleroderma, RA
-Nuclear envelope antibodies: 5 known antigens
Indicate non-erosive RA, SLE, SjS, CAH
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”Negative”
Please note that:
-A negative ANA result does not exclude presence of SLE or
another autoimmune disease!
-Anti-SSA/Ro and anti-Jo-1 are often not seen by use of several
HEp-2 cell substrates (depends on fixation technique)!
-Positive cytoplasmic staining is often called a ”negative result”!
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What are the clinical aspects?
– Some ANA have well-known clinical associations, but the target
antigen specificity needs to be revealed by techniques other than
IIF (ELISA, bead assays, chip assays, immunodiffusion etc).
– Some ANA have less clear-cut clinical utility, mainly because
only modest efforts have been spent to harmonize their
recognition by IIF and study their antigen specificity by
independent techniques, and thus sufficiently large populations
of patients have not been available for detailed clinical analyses.
– Some ANA are very rare [”esoteric”] (<5%) and thus have not
been focused on because they were considered clinically
”insignificant” although there is no basis for this assumption.
– The present concept is that all ANA have clinically significant
associations when large cohorts are studied, but that demands
set up of co-ordinated multi-centre studies.
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Autoantibody conundrum:
clinical value of esoteric autoantibodies.
Studies of disease cohorts
indicate low frequency (<5%) of antibodies to CENP-F,
PCNA, NuMA, HsEG5, GW bodies, Golgi,
early endosomes (EEA-1), PML bodies, coiled bodies
ButStudies of serological cohorts of positive sera show a high
frequency of certain autoimmune syndromes e.g.:
Antibodies to PCNA, NuMA, HsEg5, GW, Golgi,
EEA-1 indicate presence of SLE or SjS
PML antibodies indicate PBC in 35% of cases!
Anti-CENP-F indicates malignancies in 50-80% of cases!
Antibodies to Golgi, GW bodies, early endosomes
indicate ataxia in a high percentage of cases.
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Phenotypes of SLE:
relation to serum autoantibodies
Anti-ribosomal RNP:
active systemic lupus
with CNS involvement
Anti-PCNA: Mostly
SLE without a known
phenotype
Anti-spindle fibre:
Mostly SLE or SjS
without a known
phenotype
Anti-phospholipid:
Mostly SLE with a
propensity to develop
arterial or venous
thromobosis
Anti-SSA/B: active
cutaneous lupus, often
with secondary SjS
Anti-U1RNP: systemic
lupus with myositis, RP,
ILD and/or overlap SSc
Anti-dsDNA: active
systemic lupus, mostly
with anaemia, nephritis
Anti-C1q: active
systemic lupus, mostly
with lupus nephritis
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Clinical phenotypes of myositis:
from antibody to most likely manifestations
Fine speckled nucleoplasmic (Mi-2): clinical signs of proximal myositis
plus skin abnormalities compatible with dermato-myositis, histological
myositis, increased mm. enzymes and typical electro-myographic changes.
– Coarse speckled nucleoplasmic (U1RNP): clinical signs of proximal
myositis, histological and electro- myographic findings compatible with
polymyositis, increased mm. enzymes, often signs of overlap myositis.
– Homogeneous nucleolar (PM/Scl): clinical signs of proximal myositis,
histological and electro-myographic findings compatible with polymyositis,
increased mm. enzymes. Sometimes also signs of scleroderma overlap
myositis syndrome.
– Diffuse cytoplasmic (Jo-1, PL-7, PL-12 and others): clinical signs of
proximal myositis, histological and electr-myographic findings compatible
with polymyositis, increased mm. Enzymes, and often anti-synthetase
syndrome (Raynaud’s, mechanic’s hands, interstitial lung disease,
arthritis.
– Mitochondrial-like cytoplasmic (SRP): Proximal and distal myositis with
histological necrotizing myositis and electro-myographic changes.
–
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Clinical phenotypes in scleroderma:
from manifestations to autoantibody.
5 year survival:
–
Limited SSc with anti-centromere Ab.:
86%
CREST symptoms, digital ulcers/digital loss, pulmonary
hypertension, primary biliary cirrhosis, Caucasians.
–
Limited SSc with anti-Th/To Ab.:
65%
Puffy fingers, intestinal involvement, pulmonary hypertension,
often associated with hypothyroidism.
–
Overlap SSc with anti-PM/Scl. Ab.:
92%
Limited skin disease, polymyositis, calcinosis, digital ulcers.
–
Overlap SSc with anti-U1RNP Ab.:
95%
Limited SSc, polymyositis, pulmonary fibrosis,
pulmonary hypertension, cardial involvement.
–
Diffuse SSc with anti-Scl-70 Ab.:
80%
pulmonary fibrosis, tendon rubs, digital ischemia,
sometimes heart and kidney involvement.
–
Diffuse SSc with anti-U3-RNP Ab.:
77%
Digital ulcers, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary
fibrosis, African-Americans
–
Diffuse SSc with anti-RNA polymerase Abs.:
90%
acute onset, renal crisis, tendon rubs, arthritis, arterial hypertension
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Conclusions.
– ANA likely reflect tissue lesion mechanisms,
genetic influences, and perhaps etiology,
– ANA are linked to diagnosis, subsyndrome/
phenotype, manifestations, and prognosis,
– May help planning of follow-up and therapy,
– Have particular value in early disease forms,
– Can best be revealed by IIF HEp-2 assay,
– Many ”esoteric auto-Abs” are important,
– ANA can be interpreted by many technicians,
– Optimal use of ANA results depends on a
close collaboration between clinics and labs.
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Autoantibodies to citrullinated proteins
(ACPA) and diagnosis of patients with
rheumatoid arthritis (RA):
Genetic, clinical, technical, and
epidemiologic aspects
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Early synovitis in RA?
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Clinical aspects: RA
– The disease progresses quickly from a
predominantly immmunoinflammatory
to a destructive phase where established
pannus erodes bone, tendons and joint
capsule.
– The ”therapeutic window” to get control
of the early phase is very short (few
months), and later conventional therapy
has little or no effect on the destructive
phase.
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Diagnostics of chronic inflammatory
arthritides
-Clinical history ¤
-Manifestations ¤
-Clinical examination ¤
-Radiological signs
-Specialist evaluations
-Histopathology
-Immunopathology
-Laboratory tests
to look for
inflammation
-Immunoglobulin levels
-Complement activation
-Autoantibodies ¤ ¤
¤ Clinical basis for setting a tentative diagnosis
¤ ¤ Clinical basis for setting a tentative prognosis
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Criteria-based early diagnostics
Criteria = rigorously defined items
Clinical symptom 3:
rheumatoid nodules
Clinical symptom 1:
morning stiffness
Clinical symptom 2:
bone erosions?
Not present
Not found
yet
Specific serologic result: Anti-CCP
Diagnosis and Prognosis
Particular importance: clinical focus!
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Differential diagnostics in the
clinic and the laboratory
INF
Healthy
RA
PsA
OA
SLE
ASp
Background
Not really useful
for differential
diagnostics
Differential diagnostic patients (signs,
symptoms, simple biochemistry, radiology)
Great importance for differential diagnostics
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Differential diagnostics
RA
Rheumatoid arthritis
– Small joints
– Symmetric arthritis
– Rheumatoid
nodules
– Erosive lesions in
joints
– Rheumatoid factors
– Anti-CCP (ACPA)
PsA
Psoriatic arthritis:
– Larger joints
– Asymmetric arthritis
– No nodules
– Bone destruction
occur
– Rarely rheumatoid
factors
– Anti-CCP (ACPA)
rare
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Prevalence of Anti-CCP and IgM RF in
some arthritic conditions
INF
RA
PsA
OA
Healthy
SLE
ASp
Background
1-2%
1-3%
2-10%
2-50%!
6-8%
70-80%
5-10%
70-80%
6-16%
AntiCCP
5-10%
IgM
RF
Sens.
Spec.
~ 95%!
5-20%
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RF in some non-RA disorders
–
–
–
–
–
–
Mixed Cryoglobulinaemia
100%
Sjögren's syndrome
60-70%
Systemic sclerosis
20–30%
Systemic lupus erythematosus 15–35%
Polymyositis/dermatomyositis
5–10%
Many viral infections!
hepatitis B, parvo B19, rubella, mosquitoborne alpha-viruses
Healthy individuals
2–10%*
* Depends on cut-off setting, age, and F/M ratio
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Citrullination of arginines in proteins
taking place during cell death (apoptosis)
H
O
H
N
O
N
peptidylarginine
deiminase (PAD)
Ca2+
NH
H2N+
NH2
10 -5 mol.
NH
O
NH2
L-arginine residue
L-citrulline residue
(+ charged)
(neutral)
Especially gly/arg - ser/arg repeat motifs are modified
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Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide: CCP
An artificial ”mimotope”
cfc1-cyc HQCHQESTXGRSRGRCGRSGS
Cyclisation of the peptide enhances its
recognition by RA autoantibodies
Schellekens et al. Arthritis Rheum 2000, 43:155-163
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How do synovial antigens become
modified: arginine to citrullin?
– Peptidyl-arginine deiminase enzymes (PAD2 and PAD4) are richly
represented in monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils
– When these cells undergo apoptosis Ca++ ions are permeating
into the cells and activate PADs
– Ca++ concentration in normal cells ~10-7M
– Threshold for PAD enzyme activity ~10-5M
– PAD enzymes most likely also act on the enzyme-containing cells
themselves (Monos,MФs,PMNs)
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Association between anti-CCP
production and shared epitope
HLA DR typing and anti-CCP2 antibodies were studied
in 268 RA patients from an early arthritis clinic
cohort in Leiden. Radiographic disease progression
was measured over 4 years. Carriers of shared
epitope DRB1 alleles were more commonly anti-CCP
positive than non-carriers (OR 13.3) and also showed
the most pronounced radiographic progression. (van
Gaalen FA et al.:Arthritis Rheum 50:2113-2121,2004).
Shared epitope-encoding alleles are associated with antiCCP production, not with RA as such! (Huizinga T et al.:
Arthritis Rheum 52:3433-38, 2005).
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Anti-citrullin peptide antibodies, IgM
and IgA rheumatoid factors can
appear up to 10 to 18 years before the
onset of clinical symptoms of RA!!!
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Production of anti-CCP in RA
Stable
phenotype
Onset of first
clinical symptoms
Anti-CCP level
Cut-off value
U/ml
Detection
limit
- 10
Diagnosis
0
10
Time (Years)
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Genes and environment: tobacco smoking
A: Sero-positive RA
B: Sero-negative RA
Figure 2 Relative risk (RR) for
development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
in current smokers (with different
numbers of copies (0-2) of the shared
epitope (SE) of HLA-DR) compared with
never smokers. (A) RR for seropositive
RA and (B) RR for seronegative RA.
These graphs are schematic
representations of the original data from
a case-control study of RA reported in
reference 9.
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Klareskog, L et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2004;63:ii28-31ii
Copyright ©2004 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
Genetic and environmental
factors in the development of RA
Figure 3 Schematic outline of how aetiological studies as well as interventions in the pathways
leading to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should be undertaken before onset of clinical signs of RA.
CCP, cyclic citrullinated peptide; RF, rheumatoid factor; SE shared epitope.
Klareskog, L et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2004;63:ii28-31ii
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Copyright ©2004 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
Risk factors in RA. Recent study in 515 Danish
RA patients and 769 sex- and age-matched
controls
Risk factors in anti-CCP positive RA patients:
-menarche at = or >15 years of age (OR 1.87)
-tobacco smoking (both sexes): confirmed, both former and
current smokers, dose dependent effect
-coffee consumption > 10 cups/day (OR 2.75)
-alcohol consumption > 15 drinks/week (OR 0.58)
-moderately demanding exercise (OR 0.51)
-pets as adult (ever) (OR 0.73)
Pedersen M et al..: Arthritis Res Ther 2006
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Risk factors in RA
Risk factors in anti-CCP negative RA patients:
The strongest risk factor was increased body mass index 10
years before the study:
-obese (BMI = or >30 kg/m²) (OR 9.79*)
-moderate (BMI 25-30 kg/m², OR 3.53*)
*compared to underweight (<18.5 kg/m²)
-menarche = or >15 years of age (OR 2.27)
-pets (ever) (OR 0.65)
-moderately demanding exercise (OR 0.69)
Pedersen M et al.: Arthritis Res Ther, 2006
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Studies done on anti-citrulline
antibodies are difficult to compare
The citr. antigens are very different
The cut-offs used are different
The RA populations studied are different
The differential diagnostic populations studied for
comparison with RA patients are different
– Some studies include undifferentiated arthritis,
palindromic syndrome, RF+JRA, RF+psoriatic arthritis
etc. all of which may actually become RA.
–
–
–
–
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Nosographic sensitivity
(sensitivity in RA patients)
– Anti-CCP, anti-filaggrin and APF show very
similar sentivities:
- at diagnosis < 6 months: around 50%
- at diagnosis 1 year:
around 60%
- at diagnosis >2 years:
around 70%
– AKA and anti-Sa:
usually show lower
sensitivity than the above methods
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Anti-CCP in RA
Data collected from 154 studies between 2002 and June 2009. AR & T 2010
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Sensitivity
Cut-off setting between sera from RA patients
and immuno-inflammatory disease controls.
This study compares a RA population
vs. differential diagnostic populations
75%
If such cut-off setting has been done by the
developer there is less need for a study of inhouse immuno-inflammatory disease controls.
Chosen
specificity
98%
90%
Clinical diagnostics need high
differential diagnostic specificity!
1 - specificity
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How do you choose the optimal assay? Use the same disease
population as comparator for each assay!
Sensitivity
100%
Choice: blue assay!
Since this has the
highest sensitivity
77%
70%
AUC high
65%
50%
Chosen
specificity
AUC intermediate
AUC low
Test of 3
ACPA assays
Clinical diagnostics need high
differential diagnostic specificity!
98%
90%
1 - specificity
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Test of specificity and sensitivity in RA vs.controls using 3 different assays
RA/control Specific. Sens: CCP2 CCP3
MCV
Bizzaro
100/202
98.5
54-74
67
62
Coenen
102/196
95
76.2-77.0
75.5
65.7
Damjanovska
566/351
93.4
56.9
56.2
52.5
Dejaco
164/303
98.7
70.1
n.d.
53.7
Innala
210/102
98.0
80.4
78.5-79.0
69
Mutlu
93/83
98.8
57.0-62.2
60.2
29
Soos
119/118
95
74.8
n.d.
69.7
Van der
272/463
98.5
67.4-68.0
n.d.
n.d.
92/463
98.7
61.6-67.4
58.1
n.d.
180/463
98.7
65.2-77.4
67.1
n.d.
69.2
66.1
57.4
Cruyssen
Van der
Cruyssen
Van der
Cruyssen
Average: 97.3
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Note: Controls are not identical and stratification only approximated!
Comparison of ACPA in terms of positive and negative predictive values.
Study: Pts/con:
CCP 2
PPV:
NPV:
CCP 3
MCV
RF
PPV:
NPV: PPV: NPV: PPV: NPV
1
124/158
95.2
73.1
92.3
70.5
2
133/165
89.7-91.4
87.1-89.1
76.7
88.2
3
86/90
92.6-96.7
72.9-78.7
91.9-94.9
74.4
4
70/88
91.7
84.7
90.6
87.2
5
170/135
95.5
66.8
6
120/170
87.7-96.2
76.6-78.3
7
170/309
91.1
86.3
66.0
8
119/118
97.6
74.4
90.0
9
123/39
95.8
10
201/424
67.1
79.0
64.0
80.0
Average: 91.1
78.4
84.9
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79.8 80.4 81.5 75.9 75.3
80.0
93.7
92.6
90.9
73.6
80.3
72.4
82.0
69.9
77.9
79.5
84.7
58.6
79.9
78.8
80.2
74.0
79.2
61.7
77.8
87.2
77.4
78.1
96.1
56.3
Conclusions
– Anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPA) are
very specific markers for RA, also useful for differential
diagnostics towards other polyarthritides but small
subpopulations of other arthritides are ACPA-pos. too!
– Cyclic citrullinated peptide 2 (CCP2) acts as a sensitive
artificial mimotope for ACPA antigens in solid phase assays.
– Anti-CCP antibodies are present very early in disease,
sometimes before inflammation biomarkers rise and before
clinical onset of arthritis is recognized.
– Anti-CCP levels can decrease somewhat with remission
induction and increase a little with disease exacerbation,
somewhat parallel to but smaller than RF changes.
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Conclusions ctd.
– High levels of anti-CCP antibodies are prognostic for an
erosive disease course, not only in adult RA.
– Anti-CCP antibodies prevail in RA patients carrying the
HLA-DR4 shared epitope, most of which are RF-positive.
– Anti-CCP is found in about ¼ of RF-negative RA
patients, and these patients run an erosive course.
– Several environmental factors influence the onset of antiCCP positive RA (tobacco smoking, coffee consumption,
body mass index, alcohol consumption, exercise).
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