IgM predominance in autoimmune disease: Genetics and gender

Carolina Duarte-Rey, Dimitrios P. Bogdanos, Patrick S.C. Leung, Juan Manuel Anaya, M. Eric Gershwin

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

The role of specific immunoglobulin isotypes in human autoimmune disease has long attracted attention. Indeed, the presence of a polyclonal gammopathy is well known in a variety of systemic autoimmune diseases and is likely the result of chronic inflammation. However, in specific clinical situations, patients manifest isolated and elevated IgM levels, but normal IgG and IgA. The pathophysiology of this elevation and the clinical significance have been elusive. However, the relationships between specific genes and hyper-IgM are now very well defined, as it has been documented in primary hyper IgM syndromes. In this review we present data on clinical diseases with characteristic IgM abnormalities, including primary and secondary hyper IgM syndromes, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, cryoglobulinemia, primary biliary cirrhosis and multiple sclerosis and place the data in the perspective of the normal maturation of the immune response, including somatic mutation and genetic rearrangement.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)A404-A412
JournalAutoimmunity Reviews
Volume11
Issue number6-7
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'IgM predominance in autoimmune disease: Genetics and gender'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this