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. 2011 Sep 12;16(9):385–390. doi: 10.1186/2047-783X-16-9-385

Increased levels of anti-glycan antibodies in patients with cystic fibrosis

TO Hirche 1,✉, J Stein 2, H Hirche 3, J Hausmann 4, TO Wagner 4, F Behrens 4, O Schröder 4,✉
PMCID: PMC3352142  PMID: 22024437

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of Crohn's disease (CD) is increased in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) have been suggested as a screening tool to detect CD in CF. Recently, several new anti-glycan antibodies have been reported in CD.

Materials and methods

The sera of 119 CF patients of various age groups were prospectively screened for ASCA type IgG (gASCA), anti-laminaribioside carbohydrate IgG antibodies (ALCA), anti-chitobioside carbohydrate IgA antibodies (ACCA), and anti-mannobioside carbohydrate IgG antibodies (AMCA). The frequency of these anti-glycan antibodies was then compared in patients with CD, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis and healthy volunteers.

Results

A significant number of CF patients were positive for gASCA (51.3% [41.6-60.6]) and up to three other anti-glycan antibodies concurrently. Serum levels of anti-glycan antibodies in CF and CD were not related to parameters of inflammation. Despite the well-documented difference in clinical course between male and female CF patients no gender difference of anti-glycan antibodies was found. In contrast, there was a significant positive correlation between anti-glycan markers and age in CF patients.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate for the first time the increased frequency of a panel of anti-glycan antibodies in CF and provide a link between the presence of these serological biomarkers and patient's age. Anti-glycan antibody profiling may therefore become a valuable tool in the care of patients with CF.

Keywords: cystic fibrosis, crohn's disease, anti-glycan antibodies, ASCA

Introduction

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive inherited disease of Caucasians with an incidence of 1: 2000 to 1:3000 [1]. The primary cellular defect, the reduced expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), leading to diminished chloride secretion, is present in all epithelial cells of endodermal and mesodermal origin including the intestine [2]. Typical gastrointestinal complications of CF may manifest as meconium ileus at birth or distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS) primarily occurring in adolescents and adults [3,4]. Other gastrointestinal impairment may involve constipation, intussusception, and rectal prolapse [3,4]. However, many patients with CF have abdominal symptoms which cannot be categorized into the above mentioned conditions.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which non-pathogenic, commensal intestinal bacteria are thought to trigger a chronic dysregulated immune response against mucosal barrier function (for review see [5]). In a prospective multicentre study involving more than 11000 CF patients the prevalence of CD was reported to be 1:453, a rate which is 17 times that of the control group [6]. Due to a lack of a specific test for CD and overlapping clinical features of both disorders the identification of CD in CF patients is hampered.

In recent years much effort has been made to develop biomarkers for diagnosis, stratification, and predicting of various diseases including CD. The major serologic markers for CD are anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA), which have been identified in up to 60% of adults and children with CD [7,8]. ASCA belong to the group of anti-glycan antibodies. Glycan is a generic term describing molecules with glycosidic bonds, including mono-, oligo-, and polysaccarides as well as carbohydrates. They are predominant cell surface components of various types of cells including erythrocytes, immune cells, and microorganisms leading to a variety of anti-glycan antibodies of all classes (for review see [9]). Besides ASCA, three novel anti-glycan antibodies were recently identified and associated with CD: anti-laminaribioside carbohydrate IgG antibodies (ALCA), anti-chitobioside carbohydrate IgA antibodies (ACCA), and anti-mannobioside carbohydrate IgG antibodies (AMCA). Recent results have demonstrated that such serological markers provide a panel that complement ASCA for disease diagnosis with a prevalence of 19 to 40% in CD patients [10-12].

The potential use of ASCA as a tool in screening patients with CF for CD was suggested previously by demonstrating a higher frequency of ASCA seropositivity particularly in children with CF as compared to the general population [13]. In this study, we aimed at expanding the knowledge of the prevalence of antiglycan antibodies in both, children and adults with CF.

Subjects and methods

Study population

CF patients attending frankfurt university CF centre between May 2007 and October 2008 were prospectively enrolled in the study. Diagnosis of CF was confirmed by a sweet test (pilocarpin iontophoresis) and/or genetic testing in each case. Patient characteristics (age, gender) and routine laboratory parameters, including markers of inflammation (leukocyte count, C-reactive protein [CRP]), were recorded. Individuals who presented with symptoms of acute exacerbation and/or inflammation were excluded from the study. As a control, patients with CD, ulcerative colitis (UC), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and healthy volunteers were also tested for seropositivity of anti-glycan antibodies. Informed consent was given by all patients and the study was performed in accordance with the principles of the 1983 Declaration of Helsinki.

Measurement of anti-glycan antibodies

A panel of anti-glycan antibodies (ACC, ALCA, AMCA, gASCA) was determined by indirect solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (IBDX, Glycominds, Lod, Israel) following modification of previously described protocols [14]. Briefly, blood samples (10 ml, containing heparin) from patients and controls were collected by venipuncture as prescribed by local regulatory requirements. Samples were separated immediately from red blood cells and stored at 80°C until assayed. Serum samples (10 μl) were mixed with sample diluent (1:100). Next, 50 μl of diluted samples and pre-diluted controls/calibrator were incubated for 30 minutes with mannobioside immobilized in microtiter wells. After thorough washing, plates were incubated for 30 minutes with enzyme labelled (HRP) anti-human IgG. Next, unbound serum conjugate was removed by washing and chromogenic substrate (TMB) added for 15 minutes (ALCA, gASCA) or 30 minutes (AMCA, ACCA). Subsequently, reactions were terminated by addition of HRP stop solution and absorbance's of calibrator, samples and controls were evaluated spectrophotometrically (OD 450 nm). The results correlate with the quantity of antibody present in the patient sample in a non-linear fashion, a cut off threshold of 50 U/ml for each antiglycan antibody was established empirically.

Statitical methods

Logarithmic transformation was used for sufficient normal distribution of clinical and biochemical variables which were expressed as mean ± SEM or as median with quartiles (Q25% and Q75%), when appropriate. The correlation of anti-glycan antibodies in patients with CD was done by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Diagnostic parameters sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were calculated for prediction of CD by anti-glycan antibodies using endoscopy and histological examination as gold standard. In a multiple logistic regression model with stepwise forward selection of factors associated with CD, age, gender, leucocyte count, CRP, and anti-glycan antibodies were included as potential predictors. comparison of groups was done by analyses of variance (ANOYA) with multiple Scheffe test, if necessary. Fishers exact test was used for categorical variables. Assessment of statistical significance was predefined with a two-sided level of 2α < 0.05. Resulting p-values are presented descriptively with Bonferroni's adjustment for multiple testing. All statistical calculations were done by SAS Software, Version 9.1, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, USA.

Results

In this study, 119 CF patients (70 children, 49 adults, mean age ± SD: 23.8 ± 11 years) without signs of acute exacerbation were included. For controls, 34 patients with CD (mean age ± SD: 41.1 ± 16 years), 11 patients with ulcerative colitis (mean age ± SD: 38.1 ± 17 years), 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (mean age ± SD: 57.9 ± 13 years), as well as 16 healthy volunteers (mean age ± SD: 30.9 ± 5 years) were included (Table 1). Serology associated with CD (e.g., at least one of the anti-glycan markers ≥ 50 U/ml) was frequently observed in patients with previously determined CD, but rarely positive in the control groups. In contrast, levels of anti-glycan antibodies, particularly gASCA, were markedly increased in CF patients compared to the controls (p < 0.001) (Figure 1).

Table 1.

Comparison of demographic and serological parameters used in this study

Parameter CF (n = 119) CD (n = 34) UC (n = 11) RA (n = 22) HC (n = 16) p < 0.05
Gender (m/f) 67/52 14/20 3/8 5/17 10/6 n.s.
Age 23.0 36.5 30.0 57.5 29.0 RA vs. all
(years) [16, 33]* [29, 58] [25, 61] [49, 64] [28, 34]
WBC 8.9 8.5 8.5 8.0 n.d. n.s.
(/nl) [7, 11] [5, 10] [6, 11] [6, 11]
CRP 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 n.d. n.s.
(mg/dl) [0.1, 1.0] [0.1, 1.2] [0.05, 1,0] [0.1, 3.9]
ALCA 18.8 30.8 16.3 14.3 23.3 CD vs. RA
(U/ml) [12, 32] [21, 50] [12, 29] [9, 20] [19, 31]
ACCA 22.2 35.4 30 24.1 35.6 n.s.
(U/ml) [17, 39] [22, 47] [16, 40] [17, 31] [27, 42]
AMCA 29.9 32.8 23.1 23.8 30.6 n.s.
(U/ml) [23, 46] [25, 55] [16, 26] [20, 30] [20, 40]
gASCA 55.6 88.9 20.5 20.0 23.0 CD vs.
(U/ml) [27, 124] [51, 14.3] [15, 40] [14, 27] [10, 38] CU, RA, HC
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Continuous variables: median [Q25%, Q75%], WBC = white blood cell count; CRP = C-reactive protein; CF = cystic fibrosis; CD = Crohn's disease; UC = ulcerative colitis; RA = rheumatoid arthritis; HC = healthy volunteers. Differences between groups were compared by ANOVA with Scheffe-Test or Fisher's exact test(*) with Bonferroni.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Increased serum levels of gASCA in CF patients. Shown are gASCA serum levels (median, Q25%, Q75%) for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as healthy volunteers (HC). Dashed line indicates threshold for positive anti-glycan titer (≥ 50 U/ml). Asterisk indicates statistical significance in the difference between CF and CD vs. UC, RA, and HC (p < 0.02, ANOVA and Scheffe test).

All four anti-glycan antibodies evaluated correlated univariately with CD with rank correlation coefficients of rs = 0.39 (p < 0.001), 0.36 (p < 0.001), 0.17 (p ≥ 0.12), and 0.66 (p < 0.001) for ALCA, AMCA, ACCA, and gASCA, respectively. However, when all demographic and serological parameters were entered in a multivariate logistic stepwise regression model, gASCA proved to be the only significant predictor associated with CD with a high odds ratio [95% CI] of 27 [8-93] (p < 0.001). gASCA alone predicted CD with good specificity (91,8%), but only moderate sensitivity (76%) and accuracy (85,5%). Combination of anti-glycan antibodies allowed to increase specificity to up to 100%, however, this resulted in poor results of other operative test characteristics (Table 2).

Table 2.

Performance characteristics of anti-glycan antibodies for detection of patients with Crohn's disease

SE SP PPV NPV ACC
gASCA only 76.5 91.8 86.7 84.9 85.5
gASCA+1Ab 41.2 95.9 87.5 70.1 73.5
gASCA+2Ab 17.6 100 100.0 63.6 66.3
gASCA+3Ab 2.9 100 100.0 59.8 60.2
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SE = sensitivity; SP = specificity; PPV = positive predictive value; NPV = negative predictive value; ACC = accuracy; Ab anti-glycan antibodies (ACCA, ALCA, AMCA). Sera positive antibody titers were defined as ≥ 50 U/ml.

Previously, presence of multiple anti-glycan antibodies was found to be associated with a more complicated and severe course in CD with a hazard ratio of 2 to 4 [11]. While several patients with CD were found to be positive for up to all four anti-glycan markers tested in this study, none of the controls were positive for more than two. In contrast, a significant number of CF patients were positive for gASCA (51.3% (41.6-60.6)) and up to three other anti-glycan antibodies concurrently, suggesting a close pathophysiological relation between CF and CD (Figure 2a-e).

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Multiple anti-glycan antibodies detectable in CF patients. a-e, Comparison of anti-glycan antibodies (% of sera positive results ± CI 95%) for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF, a), Crohn's disease (CD, b), ulcerative colitis (UC, C), rheumatoid arthritis (RA, d), as well as healthy volunteers (HC, e). Positive anti-glycan titer were defined as ≥ 50 U/ml. X-axis indicates patients positive for gASCA alone, or positive for gASCA+ ≥ 1Ab or gASCA+ ≥ 2Ab at the time, respectively. Patients positive for gASCA and ≥ 2 anti-glycan markers were only found in CF and CD, but not in any of the other groups.

Serum levels of anti-glycan antibodies in CF and CD disease were not related to parameters of inflammation (data not shown). Despite the well documented difference in clinical course between male and female CF patients [14] we found no gender difference of anti-glycan antibodies (male: 53,7% (41-66) vs. female: 48,0% (34-62)) (Figure 3). In contrast, there was a moderate, but highly significant positive correlation between anti-glycan markers and age in CF patients. This phenomenon was particularly prominent for gASCA with Spearmann's correlation coefficient rs = 0.39 (p < 0.001), but also remained present when combinations of multiple anti-glycan antibodies were analysed (Figures 4 and 5).

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Serum levels of gASCA are not dependent on gender in CF patients. Comparison of gASCA (% of sera positive results with CI 95%) between male and female patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) or Crohn's disease (CD). Positive anti-glycan titer were defined as ≥ 50 U/ml.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Increased levels of anti-glycan antibodies in adults patients with CF. comparison of anti-glycan antibodies (% of sera positive results with CI95%) between children and adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Positive anti glycan titer were defined as ≥ 50 U/ml. X-axis indicates patients positive for gASCA only (gASCA pos), or gASCA and additional antiglycan antibodies at the time (+ ≥ 1Ab; ≥ 2Ab, ≥ 3Ab). Asterisks indicate statistical significance for difference between CF children and adults (p < 0.002, Fisher's exact test after Bonferroni's adjustment).

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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Serum levels of gASCA are increasing with age in CF patients. Scatter-plot of gASCA according to age of CF patients. Bold line represents line of regression (log gASCA = 1.406 + 0.136 × age). Dashed line indicates threshold for positive anti-glycan titer ≥ 50 U/ml). Correlation between gASCA and age was statistically significant (Spearman's rank correlation rs = 0.39, p < 0.001).

Discussion

Besides the established role of ASCA in CD, systematic screening for other anti-glycan antibodies using glycan array has lead to the discovery of novel biomarkers that may be associated with IBD. These include gASCA, ACCA, ALCA, and AMCA. There is mounting evidence suggesting not only a diagnosing and differentiating capability of these biomarkers in IBD. Two recent studies demonstrated that seropositivity for the anti-glycan antibodies is associated with early disease onset, complicated disease behaviour, and IBD-related surgery [11,15]. It appears that a combination of these biomarkers is superior to their single use. Finally, like ASCA ACCA, ALCA, and AMCA have been found to be linked to genetic susceptibility. Several studies clearly demonstrated an association between antimicrobial formation and the carriage of mutations of innate immune response genes such as NOD2/cARD15 or the toll like receptors (TLR) 2 and 4 [15,16].

ASCA have previously also been described in CF. In a prospective evaluation among young CF patients aged 2 to 21 seropositivity for ASCA was found in 17 out of 82 patients (20.7%). Eight patients exhibited antibodies of the IgA class, six had IgG antibodies and three children had both. Interestingly, a statistical significant correlation between ASCA IgG and age could be observed, whereas no such relationship was present for ASCA IgA. Clinical features associated with the presence of ASCA were not noticed in this pediatric CF population [13]. Screening sera for several antibodies in 144 adult patients with CF by Lachenal et al. revealed 43.7% to be positive for ASCA IgA. The presence of this biomarker correlated with both, male sex and hypergammaglobulinaemia. Furthermore, chronic respiratory failure, requested lung transplantation, and fatal outcome were more frequent in CF patients with ASCA IgA or autoantibodies against bactericidal/permeability increasing protein (BPIANCA) [17].

Our data adds further knowledge to the prevalence of anti-glycan antibodies in patients with CF in different age groups. For the first time the results of our single-centre study clearly demonstrate a positive correlation between ASCA and age. Moreover, similar to CD a significant proportion of adult CF patients (16.9%) were positive for ASCA and one or even more of three novel serologic anti-glycan antibodies ACCA, ALCA, and AMCA. This phenomenon was found to be in striking difference to other autoimmune diseases such as ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as to healthy volunteers.

The clinical significance of this autoimmunity in CF remains obscure. No definite clinical symptoms of CD were detected in the seropositive patients of our CF cohort. However, it has to be mentioned that endoscopic evaluation was not performed in any patient to rule out CD, thus limiting the significance of our study. In addition, there was no correlation between the presence of the anti-glycan antibodies and either gender, inflammation status (as determined by CRP), and the clinical course of CF.

Likewise, whether these antibodies target antigens that have a pathogenic role in CF or whether these markers are barely indicators of increased intestinal permeability remains to be answered. The higher frequency of anti-glycan antibodies in adult patients as compared to pediatric CF patients suggests that the generation of these serologic markers may be rather promoted by longstanding or repeated inflammation and nonspecific immune activation. In contrast, several related studies in CD suggest that the main mechanism for the antibody production might be the loss of the immune tolerance rather than an increase in intestinal permeability [18,19]. A lack of correlation between serologic CD phenotypes and intestinal permeability was reported by independent groups, indicating that these markers are not an epiphenomenon related to disease activity [19-21]. Moreover, an association between CD and a high serologic response to yeast and mannose as well as a specific lymphocyte reactivity towards mannose compared with the food allergen ovalbumin in ASCA-positive CD patients has been demonstrated [22,23]. These data imply that the anti-microorganism response in CD is not merely due to a generalized immunologic hyperreactivity toward intestinal contents as would be expected if intestinal permeability were the main mechanism. Finally, the detection of ASCA in CD patients before clinical diagnosis and the occurrence of antibodies in unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with CD also argue against a leaky bowel theory [21,24,25].

To what extent these findings in CD can readily be assigned to CF and whether the common response to anti-glycan antibodies represents a pathogenetic link for the increased susceptibility of CF patients to CD is unknown to date. In principle, two theories for the increased anti-glycan antibody formation related to the assumed vulnerability of the intestine in CF to develop CD have to be considered. Firstly, increased permeability [26] and impaired protein digestions due to a lack of proteases [27] can lead to a high antigen load to the intestinal mucosa in CF. Secondly, qualitative and quantitative abnormalities in mucus secretion may affect the access and recognition of antigens that cross the mucosal barrier [28]. In that way, Clarke et al. demonstrated in a murine CF model, that Paneth granules undergo limited dissolution and accumulate within the crypts [29]. Among the many antimicrobial effector molecules of Paneth cells defensins have been demonstrated to play a pivotal role in innate immune defence. As anti-glycan antibody formation has been linked to NOD2 mutations in CD which in turn may lead to Paneth cell dysfunction and decreased defensin production [30], it is intriguing to assume that antibody formation in CF might be the result of decreased antimicrobial activity due to decreased defensin secretion. However, this hypothesis has to be scrutinized in further studies.

In conclusion, our study demonstrated for the first time the increased frequency of a panel of anti-glycan antibodies in CF and provided a link between the presence of these serological biomarkers and patient's age. Our findings indicate that ACCA, ALCA, AMCA, and gASCA may be a valuable tool in the care of patients with CF. However, the importance and clinical significance has yet to be determined.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Contributor Information

TO Hirche, Email: tim.hirche@dkd-wiesbaden.de.

O Schröder, Email: o.schroeder@em.uni-frankfurt.de.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to B. Lafferton and B. Aulbach for excellent technical assistance.

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