Potential pathogenic role of anti-SRP and anti-HMGCR antibodies in IMNM

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a group of acquired autoimmune disorders that mainly affect the skeletal muscle tissue. Classification criteria of IIM are comprised of polymyositis, dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis and immune-mediated necrotizing myopathies.

One important hallmark of autoimmune diseases is the detection of autoantibodies in patient sera. The anti-SRP (signal recognition particle) and anti-HMGCR (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase) antibodies are specifically associated with IMNM patients, and their detection has been described as related to disease severity.

The muscles of IMNM patients are characterized by necrosis, atrophy and regenerating fibres with sparse inflammatory infiltrates. Although an important correlation between autoantibody titres, creatine kinase levels and disease progression/severity has been described in the last few years, the potential pathogenic roles of these autoantibodies have only recently been described.

This review, conducted by clinicians from Olivier Benveniste’s team (Myology Centre for Research, Institute of Myology) provides an overview of the roles of anti-SRP and anti-HMGCR in IMNM over the past 5 years.

Ladislau L, Arouche-Delaperche L, Allenbach Y, Benveniste O. Potential Pathogenic Role of Anti-Signal Recognition Protein and Anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Antibodies in Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathies. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2018 Aug 3;20(9):56.