Biomedical subjects

Amélie Servettaz

Publications and source records attributed to Amélie Servettaz.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Anti-endothelial cell antibodies from patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis bind to centromeric protein B (CENP-B).

By using a quantitative immunoblotting technique on protein extracts of human macrovascular and microvascular endothelial cells, we have analyzed the self-reactive repertoires of IgG from 20 patients with limited cutaneous SSc, 40 patients with diffuse SSc and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum IgG from 15/20 patients with limited cutaneous SSc and anti-centromere antibodies bound to at least one of the two 75- and 85-kDa protein bands in the different endothelial cell extracts, whereas IgG from healthy controls or patients with diffuse SSc did not. N-terminal sequencing of the 75- and 85-kDa bands identified CENP-B as the sole antigen in both bands. Moreover, IgG from all of the SSc patients who recognized the 75- and/or 85-kDa bands bound to a full-length recombinant CENP-B protein as assessed by ELISA, whereas IgG from other SSc patients did not. The main target of anti-endothelial cell antibodies in patients with limited cutaneous SSc is the nuclear and ubiquitous protein CENP-B.

Antibody Specificity↗

PubMed2006

[Systemic sclerosis: pathophysiology of a multifaceted disease].

Systemic sclerosis is a rare disease characterized by vascular hyperreactivity and collagen deposition. Endothelial cell, fibroblast and lymphocyte abnormalities have been reported in systemic sclerosis. Fibroblast dysfunction is characterized by uncontrolled activation of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) pathway and excess synthesis of both connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and free radicals. These promote the accumulation of extracellular matrix. Endothelial cells produce excess quantities of endothelin 1 and inducible NO synthase. They also undergo early apoptosis. Oxidative stress appears to play a major role in disease progression. Increased levels of interleukin 4, a profibrotic cytokine, have been detected in plasma and skin of systemic sclerosis patients. Autoantibodies are detectable in the serum of almost all systemic sclerosis patients. Some are directed against well-identified ubiquitous nuclear proteins and have no demonstrated pathogenic role. Other autoantibodies bind to endothelial cells or fibroblasts and may have a pathogenic role.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Scleroderma renal crisis].

Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) occurs in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and is defined by otherwise unexplained rapidly progressive renal insufficiency associated with oliguria or rapidly progressive arterial hypertension or both. SRC is a rare and severe complication of SSc, most often encountered during the first 4 years of disease, almost only in patients with diffuse SSc. Factors predicting SRC were identified, including high-dose corticosteroid administration. Use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) has dramatically impressed the prognosis of SRC, but it mortality rate is still high. Treatment aims at normalizing blood pressure as soon as possible. ACEI should always be used, and additional anti-hypertensive agents, including calcium channel blockers and alpha- and beta-blockers, may be useful. Renal replacement therapy may be needed, but often (for almost half of patients) only temporarily.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

PubMed2005

Anti-annexin V antibodies: are they prothrombotic?

Annexin V inhibits prothrombin activation and is able to prevent thrombus formation under normal venous and arterial blood flow conditions. Antibodies to annexin V have been identified in association with several pathological conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with or without anti-phospholipid syndrome, recurrent spontaneous abortions and systemic sclerosis (SSc). These antibodies are suspected to exert a detrimental role and interfere with annexin V function. Thus, they have been associated with the occurrence of foetal loss and venous and/or arterial thrombosis in SLE patients, as well as digital ischemia in SSc patients. However, their true pathogenic role remains to be proven.

Abortion, Habitual↗