Naturally-Occurring Autoantibodies to Cholesterol.

摘要

In the present study, we have now found that most of the human sera that we have tested contain naturally occuring IgG and IgM autoantibodies that react with crystalline cholesterol. A few sera also contain IgA or IgE antibodies to cholesterol. The antibodies are readily detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that uses crystalline cholesterol as an antigen. Although adverse consequences of autoantibodies to cholesterol have not yet been observed directly in humans, we have previously proposed that complement activation by cholesterol might be a factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We now suggest that the almost universal presence of autoantibodies to cholesterol, and cholesterol-dependent complement activation by naturally occuring autoantibodies, might play a role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. The degree of such a role, if any, will be investigated in the future by looking for positive or negative correlations of antibody titres and cholesterol levels, and correlations of antibody titres with vascular diseases. As yet the ubiguitous presence of naturally occurring antibodies to cholesterol has prevented the drawing of immediate conclusions in these areas, and correlations will require statistical analyses of populations of individuals at risk. Reprints. (AW)