SPRi-Based Strategy to Identify Specific Biomarkers in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Autoimmune Hepatitis

Background: Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A2/B1 is a target for antinuclear autoantibodies in systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Aim: To monitor molecular interactions between peptides spanning the entire sequence of hnRNP A2/B1 and sera from patients and healthy controls. Methods: Sera from 8 patients from each pathology and controls were passed across a surface plasmon resonance Imagery (SPRi) surface containing 39 overlapping peptides of 17 mers covering the human hnRNP B1. Interactions involving the immobilised peptides were followed in real time and dissociation rate constants k(off) for each interaction were calculated. Results: Several significant interactions were observed: i) high stability (lower K-off values) between P55-70 and the AIH sera compared to controls (p= 0.003); ii) lower stability (higher k(off) values) between P118-133 and P262-277 and SLE sera, P145-160 and RA sera compared to controls (p=0.006, p=0.002, p=0.007). The binding curves and k(off), values observed after the formation of complexes with anti-IgM and anti-IgG antibodies and after nuclease treatment of the serum indicate that i) IgM isotypes are prevalent and ii) nucleic acids participate in the interaction between anti-hnRNAP B1 and P55-70 and also between controls and the peptides studied. Conclusions: These results indicate that P55-70 of hnRNP B1 is a potential biomarker for AIH in immunological tests and suggest the role of circulating nucleic acids, (eg miRNA), present or absent according to the autoimmune disorders and involved in antigen-antibody stability.