Mucosal Autoimmunity to Cell-Bound GP2 Isoforms Is a Sensitive Marker in PSC and Associated With the Clinical Phenotype

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Zymogen granule glycoprotein 2 (GP2) was demonstrated as first autoimmune mucosal target in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) associated with disease severity. Autoantibodies to four GP2 isoforms (aGP2_1-4) were found in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases but reactivity against specific GP2 epitopes has not been investigated in PSC yet. Hence, the prevalence of aGP2_1-4 and their association with the PSC phenotype for risk prediction were examined. <b>Methods:</b> GP2 isoforms were stably expressed as glycosylphosphatidyl - inositol-anchored molecules in the membrane of HEp-2 cells and used as autoantigenic targets in indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). aGP2_1-4 IgA and IgG were detected by IFA in 212 PSC patients of four European university hospitals and 145 controls comprising 95 patients with cystic fibrosis and 50 healthy subjects. <b>Results:</b> Combined aGP2₁ and aGP2₄ IgA testing with a sensitivity of 66.0% and a specificity of 97.9% resulted in the best diagnostic performance (Youden index: 0.64) regarding all aGP2 and combinations thereof. aGP2₄ IgA positivity is significantly associated with the presence of cirrhosis in PSC (<i>p</i> = 0.0056). Logistic regression revealed the occurrence of aGP2₁ IgA (odds ratio [OR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.86) and aGP2₄ IgA (OR 1.52, 95%CI: 1.07-2.15) along with male gender (OR 0.51, 95%CI: 0.27-0.97) and older age (OR 1.03 95%CI: 1.01-1.05) as significant risks for the concomitant presence of cirrhosis in PSC. <b>Conclusions:</b> Combined aGP2₁ and aGP2₄ IgA analysis is preferred to single aGP2 isoform analysis for sensitive PSC autoantibody testing. Positivity for aGP2₁ and aGP2₄ IgA is associated with cirrhosis in PSC and could be used for risk stratification.