Anti-Tribbles homolog 2 (TRIB2) autoantibodies in narcolepsy are associated with recent onset of cataplexy.

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVE:

Recent studies have found increased autoantibodies against Tribbles homolog 2 (anti-TRIB2) and anti-streptolysin O (ASO) in narcolepsy. In this study, we replicated this finding with a primary focus on recent onset cases.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS:

Participants included (1) 90 cases with cataplexy, (2) 57 cases without cataplexy, and (3) 156 age-sex matched controls, including 73 human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQB1*0602 allele carriers. A radioligand binding assay was used to detect anti-TRIB2 antibodies.

RESULTS:

Anti-TRIB2 antibodies were prevalent in HLA-DQB1*0602 positive cases with cataplexy (25.0% of 76) and rare in cases without cataplexy (3.5% of 57, OR = 9.2, 95% CI = 2.5 - 33.5, P = 6.0 x 10(-4)) or controls (4.5% of 156, OR = 7.1, 95% CI = 3.1 - 16.2, P = 9.3 x 10(-6)). Anti-TRIB2 positivity in controls was not associated with DQB1*0602. In DQB1*0602 narcolepsy-cataplexy cases, the presence of anti-TRIB2 was associated with short disease duration (2.3 years from cataplexy onset), with 41.0% positive in this group (OR = 7.4 versus cases with onset > 2.3 years, 95% CI = 1.9- 28.5, P = 9.0 x 10(-4)). Anti-TRIB2 positivity in 39 DQB1*0602 positive recent onset cases was associated with increased ASO antibody (> 200 IU) (OR = 6.2, 95% CI = 1.6 - 24.6, P = 0.01), but did not correlate with age, gender, or body mass index.

CONCLUSION:

Anti-TRIB2 autoantibodies are strongly associated with narcolepsy close to cataplexy onset (< or = 2.3 years). Anti-TRIB2 was rarely found in cases without cataplexy or with distant onset.

• Authors: Minae Kawashima, Ling Lin, Susumu Tanaka, Poul Jennum, Stine Knudsen, Sona Nevsimalova, Giuseppe Plazzi, Emmanuel Mignot
• Journal: Sleep (Sleep) Vol. 33 Issue 7 Pg. 869-74 (Jul 2010) ISSN: 0161-8105 [Print] United States
• PMID: 20614846 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
• TRIB2 protein, human

Topics

• Adult
• Autoantibodies (immunology)
• Autoimmunity (immunology)
• Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
• Cataplexy (complications)
• Female
• Humans
• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins (immunology)
• Male
• Narcolepsy (immunology)
• Odds Ratio
• Radioligand Assay (methods)