Estimation of anti-SS-A Ab and anti-SS-B Ab in the serum of Yusho victims

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) causes the release of superoxide during the metabolic process. Therefore, Yusho victims are thought to be exposed to oxidative stress caused by PCB, because high concentrations of PCB are still detected in the serum of Yusho victims. Furthermore, oxidative stress contributes to the generation of autoantibodies because of oxidative modification. In order to estimate the autoantibody in Yusho victims, we mesured serum levels of anti-SS-A antibody (Ab) and anti-SS-B Ab both in certified Yusho victims and age-matched controls. The mean values of anti-SS-A Ab were 4.0 +/- 17.1 (Index) in certified Yusho victims and 0.7 +/- 0.5 (Index) in controls. And the mean values of anti-SS-B Ab were 7.4 +/- 4.6 (Index) in certified Yusho victims and 5.6 +/- 1.7 (Index) in controls. Although the occurrence rates of anti-SS-A Ab and anti-SS-B Ab were high in Yusho victims, there were no significant difference between Yusho victims and controls