Endothelial Cell Targets in Behçet Disease

Behçet disease (BD) is a chronic multisystem disease that often involves vasculitis and thromboses; these manifestations suggest that the immune system may be targeting autoantigens in the endothelial cells. Indeed, antibodies reacting with endothelial cell substrates occur in the sera of patients with BD. Often, the mouths of patients with BD are colonized by Streptococcus sanguis, and intradermal skin tests with streptococcal antigens often elicit strong delayed hypersensitivity reactions, suggesting that infectious agents may play an etiopathologic role.

Investigators performed Western blot testing to define which antigen was reacting with the antiendothelial cell antibody in patients with BD. Of 30 BD patients, 25 had serum IgA antibodie…