Scleroderma / Rheumatology

Systemic sclerosis is a devastating multiorgan disease characterized by a triad of autoimmunity, vasculopathy and tissue fibrosis. The functional link between these three pathophysiologic components is missing. Immunosuppressive therapies are rarely effective. There is emerging evidence on beneficial effects of treatments targeting reninangiotensin system or endothelin receptors.

Prof. G. Riemekasten and Prof. D. Dragun, Charite Medical School, Berlin, investigated the involvement of antibody to AT1R and ETAR in systemic sclerosis. Functional autoimmunity directed at AT1R and ETAR is common in patients with SSc. AT1R and ETAR autoantibodies could contribute to disease pathogenesis and serve as biomarkers for risk assessment of disease progression.

The CE-labeled, cell based AT1R-Antibody-ELISA and ETAR-Antibody-ELISA are the first ELISA for the routine screening in sera or plasma.