Anti-cytokine autoantibodies are ubiquitous in healthy individuals

FEBS Lett. 2007 May 15;581(10):2017-21. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.04.029. Epub 2007 Apr 24.

Abstract

Anti-cytokine autoantibodies in healthy individuals have been widely reported but the occurrence is variable and inconstant. We hypothesized that cytokine-binding in vivo may explain their variable and infrequent detection. Therefore, we focused on the detection of the cytokine-autoantibody complexes and found that anti-cytokine autoantibody to IL-2, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor were present in all 15 individuals evaluated, while those to IL-3, osteopontin and macrophage-colony stimulating factor were not detected in anyone. Autoantibodies against IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and interferon-gamma were variously detected. Thus, we discovered that anti-cytokine autoantibodies to multiple cytokines are ubiquitous in healthy individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Female
  • Health*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / immunology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Cytokines
  • Ligands
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors