Correlation between Antibodies to Bacterial Lipopolysaccharides and Barrier Proteins in Sera Positive for ASCA and ANCA.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Case-control serological study comparing antibody levels across defined serum groups.
PubMed 32085663 · doi:10.3390/ijms21041381
What was done
Sera from 94 ASCA-positive, 94 ANCA-positive, and 188 healthy control subjects were evaluated. Investigators measured circulating antibodies against bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and barrier-related proteins (zonulin+occludin, S100B, and aquaporin-4) to assess correlations between bacterial endotoxin exposure and barrier integrity markers.
What was found
Elevations in antibodies against barrier proteins were reported in approximately 30% of ASCA- and ANCA-positive sera. Positive linear relationships were observed between anti-LPS antibodies and antibodies against gut and blood-brain barrier proteins, with correlation strengths ranging from low to high. Exact numerical values, correlation coefficients, and p-values were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study adds serological evidence linking circulating endotoxin antibodies to antibodies against intestinal and blood-brain barrier proteins in individuals with autoimmune and inflammatory profiles.
Limits
The study is limited by an observational case-control design that cannot establish causality. Circulating antibody levels serve only as indirect proxies for barrier integrity rather than direct functional measures of permeability, and the abstract lacks exact statistical values, demographic data, and clinical disease characteristics.
Cited by
- supports The Cyrex Array 2 test measures antibodies to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to assess leaky gut, while Cyrex Array 3 measures immune reactivity to gluten and gliadin domains.