Circulating antibodies against age-modified proteins in patients with coronary atherosclerosis
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Authors: Korca, Edina; Piskovatska, Veronika; Boergermann, Jochen; Santos, Alexander Navarrete; Simm, Andreas
Abstract
Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) are formed in a series of non-enzymatic reactions between reducing sugars and the amino groups of proteins and accumulate during aging, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease and other chronic diseases. Accumulation of AGE-modifications alters protein structure and function, transforming these molecules into potential targets of the immune system, presumably triggering the production of autoantibodies against AGEs. In this study, we detected autoantibodies against AGE-modified proteins with ELISA in plasma samples of 91 patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD), who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Patients with high levels of autoantibodies had a higher body mass index (BMI 28.6 vs 27.1 kg/m(2); p=0.046), were more likely to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD 30% vs 9.8%; p=0.018), and more likely to need dialysis after the surgery (10% vs 0%; p=0.037). Our findings show a weak link between the levels of autoantibodies against AGEs and diabetes mellitus (DM 44% vs 24.4%; p=0.05). In a small subpopulation of patients, antibodies against native bovine serum albumin (BSA) were detected. A growing body of research explores the potential role of antibodies against AGE-modified proteins in pathogenesis of different chronic diseases; our data confirms the presence of AGE-autoantibodies in patients with CAD and that in parallel to the AGEs themselves, they may have a potential role in concomitant clinical conditions in patients undergoing CABG surgery. Further research is necessary to verify the molecular role of these antibodies in different pathological conditions.
Naturally Acquired Humoral Immunity Against Plasmodium falciparum Malaria
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
Authors: Gonzales, S. Jake; Reyes, Raphael A.; Braddom, Ashley E.; Batugedara, Gayani; Bol, Sebastiaan; Bunnik, Evelien M.
Abstract
Malaria remains a significant contributor to the global burden of disease, with around 40% of the world's population at risk of Plasmodium infections. The development of an effective vaccine against the malaria parasite would mark a breakthrough in the fight to eradicate the disease. Over time, natural infection elicits a robust immune response against the blood stage of the parasite, providing protection against malaria. In recent years, we have gained valuable insight into the mechanisms by which IgG acts to prevent pathology and inhibit parasite replication, as well as the potential role of immunoglobulin M (IgM) in these processes. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms, acquisition, and maintenance of naturally acquired immunity, and the relevance of these discoveries for the development of a potential vaccine against the blood stage of Plasmodium falciparum.