To characterize and compare autoantibody immune signatures across incomplete lupus erythematosus (ILE), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), non-Sjögren’s disease sicca (nSjD-sicca), and Sjögren’s disease (SjD), highlighting the significance of these distinctions in clinical settings.
Approach:
Key Findings:
ILE showed increased IgM autoreactivity compared to SLE (BH-FDR-adjusted p<0.05), targeting various antigens, indicating a distinct immune response.
SLE demonstrated enriched IgG responses to canonical nuclear antigens, which may inform diagnostic criteria.
Ro52 IgG autoantibodies were significantly increased in SjD compared to nSjD-sicca, suggesting a potential biomarker for disease progression.
Interpretation:
Incomplete autoimmune disease states exhibit distinct IgM-dominant autoantibody profiles, suggesting the potential value of isotype-specific profiling for disease classification and its implications for tailored treatment strategies.
Limitations:
The study is limited to specific patient cohorts and may not generalize to all populations, potentially affecting the applicability of findings.
Expanded autoantibody profiling is limited in nSjD-sicca and ILE, which may overlook other relevant autoantibody responses.
Conclusion:
The findings highlight the unique autoantibody profiles in incomplete autoimmune diseases, which differ from established conditions, emphasizing the need for isotype-specific profiling in clinical practice.
