Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathies: time to update the pathologic criteria?

 

This study aimed to characterise muscle fibre necrosis in immune-mediated necrotizing myopathies (IMNM) with anti-signal recognition particle (SRP) or anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) antibodies and to explore its underlying molecular immune mechanisms. The results showed that creatine kinase levels and muscle regeneration correlated with the proportion of necrotic fibers (r = 0.6, p < 0.001). CD68+iNOS+ macrophages and a Th-1 immune environment were chiefly involved in ongoing myophagocytosis of necrotic fibers. T-cell densities correlated with necrosis but no signs of cytotoxicity were detected. Activation of the classical pathway of the complement cascade, accompanied by deposition of sarcolemmal immunoglobulins, featured involvement of humoral immunity. Presence of SRP and HMGCR proteins on altered myofibers was reproduced on myotubes exposed to purified patient-derived autoantibodies. Finally, a correlation between sarcolemmal complement deposits and fiber necrosis was observed (r = 0.4 and p = 0.004).

Allenbach Y, Arouche-Delaperche L, Preusse C, et al. Necrosis in anti-SRP(+) and anti-HMGCR(+)myopathies: Role of autoantibodies and complement. Neurology. 2018 Feb 6;90(6):e507-e517.