The effect of Toxoplasma gondii infection on anti-dsDNA, anti-ribosomal P, and anti-chromatin (minor DNA) autoantibodies in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63939/dbqmny45Keywords:
Systemic lupus erythematosus, Toxoplasma gondii, anti-dsDNA, anti-ribosomal P antibodies, antichromatin antibodies, disease activityAbstract
Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is distinguished by the fluctuation of disease activity and the production of pathogenic autoantibodies. Infectious agents, such as Toxoplasma gondii, have been proposed to be candidate environmental factors able to influence autoimmune responses. Nevertheless, relationship between T. gondii infection and autoantibody profiles among patients with SLE is not fully realized yet especially in endemic areas.
Objective: study the roles of Toxoplasma gondii infection on levels and prevalence of anti-ribosomal P, anti–double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), and anti-chromatin (minor DNA) autoantibodies, in addition to disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Methods: A cross-sectional study which included 100 lupus patients Al-Najaf hospitals. Study period between June 2024 to July 2025. Sunscreen-naive SLE patients were categorized by T. gondii infection: 48 who were with infection and 52 who were without infection. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were determined by ELISA. Serum antibodies to dsDNA, ribosomal P and chromatin were assessed by ELISA. Disease activity was evaluated based on the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Group comparisons, correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analyses.
Results: The seropositivity of T. gondii IgG was considerably higher in SLE patients (48.0% P = 0.03). Anti-dsDNA antibodies (p < 0.001) and anti-chromatin antibodies (p < 0.001) were significantly elevated in seropositive SLE patients., in comparison with
seronegative subjects. Patients with T. gondii were more likely to possess anti-ribosomal P antibodies (45.8%; 23.1%, p = 0.01) and these were linked to neuropsychiatric presentation. SLEDAI score was significantly higher in the T. gondii positive group (p < 0.001). Positive correlations were found between the titer of T. gondii IgG antibodies, the levels of autoantibodies, and disease activity. On multivariate analysis, T. gondii seropositivity was an independent predictor of high disease activity (OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.6–7.1).
Conclusions: T gondii infection is correlated with elevated autoantibodies titers and higher SLE activity. These results suggest that chronic toxoplasmosis may act as an immunological modulator in SLE and the need to consider the etiology of parasite infections in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases, especially when these are endemic.
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