Antibodies specific to ferritin light chain polypeptide are frequently detected in patients with immune-related pancytopenia

Abstract

Immuno-related pancytopenia (IRP) is characterized by pancytopenia resulting from bone marrow suppression or destruction mediated by auto-antibodies. In our previous study, a K562 cDNA library was established, which was used to screen for seven possible auto-antigens produced by hematopoietic cells in patients with IRP, including ferritin light chain (FTL). In the present study, FTL was expressed and purified, and the levels of the auto-antibodies specific to FTL were measured. Through ELI SA, it was shown that the titer of anti-FTL antibodies was higher in patients with IRP without treatment compared with those who had recovered from IRP, those with severe aplastic anemia (SAA ), those with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and the healthy controls. Furthermore, the expression levels of FTL. mRNA were upregulated in patients with IRP without treatment compared with those who had recovered from IRP, those with MDS and the normal controls. The results suggest that FTL antibody expression is upregulated in patients with IRP. Detecting FTL antibodies may therefore have certain clinical value in differentiating between IRP, SAA and MDS. Furthermore, in specific patients with IRP, FTL as an auto-antigen may induce immune attack on hematopoietic stem cells.