Antinuclear Antibody Seropositivity in Fibromyalgia Associated with Borrelia-specific T Lymphocytes

Page: [352 - 354] Pages: 3

  • * (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

Background: Our group have recently reported that there is no evidence of an association between fibromyalgia and Borrelia-specific T lymphocytes. However, a small number of case reports has suggested that infection by the bacterial genus Borrelia may be associated with the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs).

Objective: To test the hypothesis that those fibromyalgia patients who are ANA seropositive are more likely to show evidence of Borrelia-specific T lymphocyte reactivity than those who are seronegative.

Methods: T lymphocyte reactivity to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (full antigen) was assessed using the enzyme-linked immunospot and serum ANA status was assessed using immunofluorescence in 27 fibromyalgia patients fulfilling the revised diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology.

Results: The ANA seropositive and seronegative groups were matched for age, sex and ethnicity; the T lymphocyte reactivity to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (full antigen) in the former group (mean 5.60) was significantly higher than that in the seronegative group (mean 1.77; p < 0.05).

Conclusion: This novel study points to an association of ANA seropositivity in fibromyalgia with Borrelia-specific T lymphocytes.

Graphical Abstract

[1]
Puri BK, Lee GS, Schwarzbach A. Is fibromyalgia associated with Borrelia-specific T lymphocytes? Curr Rheumatol Rev 2022; 18(2): 157-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573397117666210924152636] [PMID: 34561988]
[2]
Goebel KM, Krause A, Neurath F. Acquired transient autoimmune reactions in Lyme arthritis: Correlation between rheumatoid factor and disease activity. Scand J Rheumatol 1988; 17(sup 75): 314-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/03009748809096784] [PMID: 3238365]
[3]
Federlin K, Becker H. Borrelia infection and systemic lupus erythematosus. Immun Infekt 1989; 17(6): 195-8.
[PMID: 2693342]
[4]
Miyazaki K, Iijima M, Takeuchi M, Uchiyama S, Iwata M. A case of neuroborreliosis with unilateral radiculoneuropathy and elevated serum antibodies for Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii. Rinsho Shinkeigaku 1996; 36(10): 1155-60.
[PMID: 8997140]
[5]
Albert S, Schulze J, Riegel H, Brade V. Lyme arthritis in a 12-year-old patient after a latency period of 5 years. Infection 1999; 27(4-5): 286-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s150100050033] [PMID: 10885847]
[6]
Prinz JC, Kutasi Z, Weisenseel P, Pótó L, Battyáni Z, Ruzicka T. “Borrelia-associated early-onset morphea”: A particular type of scleroderma in childhood and adolescence with high titer antinuclear antibodies? J Am Acad Dermatol 2009; 60(2): 248-55.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2008.09.023] [PMID: 19022534]
[7]
Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles MA, et al. The American college of rheumatology preliminary diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia and measurement of symptom severity. Arthritis Care Res 2010; 62(5): 600-10.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/acr.20140] [PMID: 20461783]
[8]
R Core Team R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R foundation for statistical computing. Vienna, Austria, 2021.
[9]
JASP Team JASP (Version 0163). University of Amsterdam 2022.
[10]
Garcia-Monco JC, Seidman RJ, Benach JL. Experimental immunization with Borrelia burgdorferi induces development of antibodies to gangliosides. Infect Immun 1995; 63(10): 4130-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/iai.63.10.4130-4137.1995] [PMID: 7558329]
[11]
Martin R, Ortlauf J, Sticht-Groh V, Bogdahn U, Goldmann SF, Mertens HG. Borrelia burgdorferi specific and autoreactive T-cell lines from cerebrospinal fluid in lyme radiculomyelitis. Ann Neurol 1988; 24(4): 509-16.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ana.410240406] [PMID: 3266455]
[12]
Kuenzle S, von Büdingen HC, Meier M, et al. Pathogen specificity and autoimmunity are distinct features of antigen-driven immune responses in neuroborreliosis. Infect Immun 2007; 75(8): 3842-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00260-07] [PMID: 17517881]
[13]
Lünemann JD, Gelderblom H, Sospedra M, et al. Cerebrospinal fluid-infiltrating CD4+ T cells recognize Borrelia burgdorferi lysine-enriched protein domains and central nervous system autoantigens in early lyme encephalitis. Infect Immun 2007; 75(1): 243-51.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/IAI.01110-06] [PMID: 17060473]
[14]
Drouin EE, Glickstein L, Kwok WW, Nepom GT, Steere AC. Human homologues of a Borrelia T cell epitope associated with antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis. Mol Immunol 2008; 45(1): 180-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2007.04.017] [PMID: 17555819]
[15]
Fallon BA, Strobino B, Reim S, Stoner J, Cunningham MW. Anti-lysoganglioside and other anti-neuronal autoantibodies in post-treatment lyme disease and erythema migrans after repeat infection. Brain Behav Immun Health 2020; 2: 100015.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2019.100015] [PMID: 34589824]