Fazzini F, Peri G, Doni A, Dell'Antonio G, Dal Cin E, Bozzolo E, D'Auria F, Praderio L, Ciboddo G, Sabbadini M G, Manfredi A A, Mantovani A, Querini P R
Istituto Scientifico H San Raffaele and Università, Milan, Italy.
Arthritis Rheum. 2001 Dec;44(12):2841-50. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(200112)44:12<2841::aid-art472>3.0.co;2-6.
To verify whether the prototypical long pentraxin PTX3 represents an indicator of the activity of small-vessel vasculitis.
Concentrations of PTX3, a pentraxin induced in endothelium by cytokines, were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the sera of 43 patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome, Wegener's granulomatosis, and microscopic polyangiitis. PTX3 was also measured in the sera of 28 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 22 with rheumatoid arthritis, and 16 with CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectasias). Serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by immunoturbidimetry. The cells involved in PTX3 production in vivo were identified in skin biopsy samples.
Patients with active vasculitis had significantly higher concentrations of PTX3 than did those with quiescent disease (P < 0.001). PTX3 levels in the latter group were similar to those in healthy controls. PTX3 levels were higher in patients with untreated vasculitis and lower in patients who underwent immunosuppressive treatments (P < 0.005). In contrast, patients with active SLE had negligible levels of the pentraxin. PTX3 levels did not correlate with CRP levels in vasculitis patients. Endothelial cells produced PTX3 in active skin lesions.
PTX3 represents a novel acute-phase reactant produced at sites of active vasculitis.
验证典型的长五聚体蛋白PTX3是否为小血管炎活动的一个指标。
采用酶联免疫吸附测定法检测43例变应性肉芽肿性血管炎、韦格纳肉芽肿病和显微镜下多血管炎患者血清中细胞因子诱导内皮细胞产生的五聚体蛋白PTX3的浓度。还检测了28例系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）患者、22例类风湿关节炎患者和16例CREST综合征（钙质沉着、雷诺现象、食管运动障碍、指（趾）硬皮病、毛细血管扩张）患者血清中的PTX3浓度。采用免疫比浊法检测血清C反应蛋白（CRP）浓度。在皮肤活检样本中鉴定体内产生PTX3的细胞。
活动性血管炎患者的PTX3浓度显著高于病情静止的患者（P<0.001）。后一组患者的PTX3水平与健康对照者相似。未经治疗的血管炎患者PTX3水平较高．接受免疫抑制治疗的患者PTX3水平较低（P<0.005）。相比之下，活动性SLE患者的五聚体蛋白水平可忽略不计。血管炎患者的PTX3水平与CRP水平无关。内皮细胞在活动性皮肤病变中产生PTX3。
PTX3是一种在活动性血管炎部位产生的新型急性期反应物。
