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Active NET formation in Libman–Sacks endocarditis without antiphospholipid antibodies : A dramatic onset of systemic lupus erythematosus

Appelgren, Daniel ; Dahle, Charlotte ; Knopf, Jasmin ; Bilyy, Rostyslav ; Vovk, Volodymyr ; Sundgren, Pia C. LU orcid ; Bengtsson, Anders A. LU ; Wetterö, Jonas ; Muñoz, Luis E. and Herrmann, Martin , et al. (2018) In Autoimmunity 51(6). p.310-318
Abstract

Although neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been highlighted in several systemic inflammatory diseases, their clinical correlates and potential pathological role remain obscure. Herein, we describe a dramatic onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with clear-cut pathogenic implications for neutrophils and NET formation in a young woman with cardiac (Libman–Sacks endocarditis) and central nervous system (psychosis and seizures) involvement. Despite extensive search, circulating antiphospholipid autoantibodies, a hallmark of Libman–Sacks endocarditis, could not be detected. Instead, we observed active NET formation in the tissue of the mitral valve, as well as in the circulation. Levels of NET remnants were significantly... (More)

Although neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been highlighted in several systemic inflammatory diseases, their clinical correlates and potential pathological role remain obscure. Herein, we describe a dramatic onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with clear-cut pathogenic implications for neutrophils and NET formation in a young woman with cardiac (Libman–Sacks endocarditis) and central nervous system (psychosis and seizures) involvement. Despite extensive search, circulating antiphospholipid autoantibodies, a hallmark of Libman–Sacks endocarditis, could not be detected. Instead, we observed active NET formation in the tissue of the mitral valve, as well as in the circulation. Levels of NET remnants were significantly higher in serially obtained sera from the patient compared with sex-matched blood donors (p =.0011), and showed a non-significant but substantial correlation with blood neutrophil counts (r = 0.65, p =.16). The specific neutrophil elastase activity measured in serum seemed to be modulated by the provided immunosuppressive treatment. In addition, we found anti-Ro60/SSA antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient but not NET remnants or increased elastase activity. This case illustrates that different disease mechanisms mediated via autoantibodies can occur simultaneously in SLE. NET formation with release of cytotoxic NET remnants is a candidate player in the pathogenesis of this non-canonical form of Libman–Sacks endocarditis occurring in the absence of traditional antiphospholipid autoantibodies. The case description includes longitudinal results with clinical follow-up data and a discussion of the potential roles of NETs in SLE.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Anti-dsDNA antibodies, elastase activity, Libman–Sacks endocarditis, NET remnants, neuropsychiatric lupus, neutrophil extracellular traps, systemic lupus erythematosus
in
Autoimmunity
volume
51
issue
6
pages
310 - 318
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:30369267
  • scopus:85055683693
ISSN
0891-6934
DOI
10.1080/08916934.2018.1514496
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b2d57361-29b5-4637-be1d-35dd2bda85b4
date added to LUP
2018-11-26 09:09:03
date last changed
2024-04-15 17:27:47
@article{b2d57361-29b5-4637-be1d-35dd2bda85b4,
  abstract     = {{<p>Although neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been highlighted in several systemic inflammatory diseases, their clinical correlates and potential pathological role remain obscure. Herein, we describe a dramatic onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with clear-cut pathogenic implications for neutrophils and NET formation in a young woman with cardiac (Libman–Sacks endocarditis) and central nervous system (psychosis and seizures) involvement. Despite extensive search, circulating antiphospholipid autoantibodies, a hallmark of Libman–Sacks endocarditis, could not be detected. Instead, we observed active NET formation in the tissue of the mitral valve, as well as in the circulation. Levels of NET remnants were significantly higher in serially obtained sera from the patient compared with sex-matched blood donors (p =.0011), and showed a non-significant but substantial correlation with blood neutrophil counts (r = 0.65, p =.16). The specific neutrophil elastase activity measured in serum seemed to be modulated by the provided immunosuppressive treatment. In addition, we found anti-Ro60/SSA antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient but not NET remnants or increased elastase activity. This case illustrates that different disease mechanisms mediated via autoantibodies can occur simultaneously in SLE. NET formation with release of cytotoxic NET remnants is a candidate player in the pathogenesis of this non-canonical form of Libman–Sacks endocarditis occurring in the absence of traditional antiphospholipid autoantibodies. The case description includes longitudinal results with clinical follow-up data and a discussion of the potential roles of NETs in SLE.</p>}},
  author       = {{Appelgren, Daniel and Dahle, Charlotte and Knopf, Jasmin and Bilyy, Rostyslav and Vovk, Volodymyr and Sundgren, Pia C. and Bengtsson, Anders A. and Wetterö, Jonas and Muñoz, Luis E. and Herrmann, Martin and Höög, Anders and Sjöwall, Christopher}},
  issn         = {{0891-6934}},
  keywords     = {{Anti-dsDNA antibodies; elastase activity; Libman–Sacks endocarditis; NET remnants; neuropsychiatric lupus; neutrophil extracellular traps; systemic lupus erythematosus}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{310--318}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Autoimmunity}},
  title        = {{Active NET formation in Libman–Sacks endocarditis without antiphospholipid antibodies : A dramatic onset of systemic lupus erythematosus}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08916934.2018.1514496}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/08916934.2018.1514496}},
  volume       = {{51}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}