Agonist-like autoantibodies against calcium channel in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

The calcium channel may be an important target in the autoimmune pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The presence and function of serum autoantibodies against calcium channels (CC-AAbs) in patients with DCM were studied. Calcium-channel AAbs were detected in 80 patients with DCM and 80 controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Calcium-channel AAbs were further purified by affinity chromatography for characterization by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Voltage-clamp experiments were performed to identify the function of CC-AAbs. The presence of CC-AAbs was shown effectively by ELISA, and CC-AAbs were able specifically to bind to the calcium channel on the myocyte, confirmed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Calcium currents were enhanced by CC-AAbs on Xenopus oocytes expressing human Ca V 1.2 channels, which suggested CC-AAbs in patients with DCM were agonist-like. Our results suggest there are novel agonist-like CC-AAbs in patients with DCM. Calcium-channel AAbs might play an important role in the pathogenesis of DCM.