Cytoskeletal Autoantibodies/Antiactin Antibodies

Anticytoskeleton antibodies were one of the first autoantibodies discovered, have been found in healthy individuals, and have also been associated with a number of infectious and inflammatory diseases. These autoantibodies are characterized by their binding to the principal components of microtubules, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments including actin, tubulin, keratin, vimentin, desmin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, peripherin, neurofilaments, alpha-internexin, and nuclear lamins. Given their ubiquitous presence, cytoskeletal proteins can be isolated from a number of different tissues and cells and antibodies to these antigens can be detected by a variety of methods. The mechanisms leading to the production of these autoantibodies is unclear but may be related to tissue damage and nonspecific B-cell stimulation. Thus far, anticytoskeletal antibodies have not been shown to be pathogenic and, with the exception of autoimmune hepatitis, are of limited clinical utility.