エリスロポエチン(EPO)低反応性の貧血に関与する新規因子である抗EPO受容体抗体の同定を行い,さらにその臨床特性および生物学的活性を検討した.その結果,検討した患者血清の一部において抗EPO受容体抗体が陽性であった.試験内の検討では,抗体陽性の血清によりEPO依存性の赤芽球系細胞の増殖が抑制された.最も高頻度に検出された全身性エリテマトーデス症例の検討では,抗体陽性例は陰性例と比較して末梢血網赤血球数および骨髄赤芽球減少と相関した.以上より,貧血患者の一部にEPO活性を阻害する抗EPO受容体抗体が認められることが判明した.
We examined the prevalence, clinical associations and pathogenic role of novel autoantibodies to the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) in patients with anemia of chronic disease (ACD). As a result, serum anti-EPOR antibodies were detected in some patients, but in none of the healthy controls. Sera from patients with anti-EPOR antibodies inhibited EPO-dependent cell proliferation. Among SLE patients studied, anti-EPOR antibodies were associated with reticulocytopenia and a decrease in bone marrow erythroblasts. In conclusion, impaired erythropoiesis may be mediated by anti-EPOR antibodies, which functionally neutralize EPO activity.