Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Disease activity and anti-topoisomerase I antibody positivity are associated with elevated serum B cell activating factor levels and a B cell subset-wide reduction of BAFF-receptor expression in SSc
Authors' conclusion
Our study indicates that elevated BAFF levels, coupled with a reduction in BAFF-R expression, are significant characteristics in ATA+ SSc and of clinically active patients regardless of autoantibody status.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SSc (ACA+ or ATA+) and age- and sex-matched controls69 SSc patients · 10 controls
- Participants
- 37 / 32 / 10
- Exposure
- SSc patients vs age- and sex-matched controls
- ACA+n = 37
- ATA+n = 32
- Controlsn = 10reference
- Outcome
- Serum BAFF levels and BAFF-R expression on B cell subsets, in relation to autoantibody subtype and disease activity
Methodological detailsage- and sex-matched controls, flow cytometry, ELISA
- Age- and sex-matched controls
- Flow cytometry
- ELISA
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- BAFF levels significantly elevated in SSc patients vs controls
- More pronounced in clinically active than clinically stable patients
- More pronounced in ATA+ vs controls and ACA+ SSc patients
- BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R) expression reduced on total and several B cell subsets
- BAFF-R expression correlated inversely with serum BAFF levels
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Correlation of BAFF with inflammatory markers and autoantibody levels
- BAFF correlated with ESR and CRP in ATA+ SSc patients
- Moderate correlation between BAFF and ATA-IgG, but not between BAFF and ACA-IgG
Original publication
Disease activity and anti-topoisomerase I antibody positivity are associated with elevated serum B cell activating factor levels and a B cell subset-wide reduction of BAFF-receptor expression in SSc. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 1 July 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →