ANTI JO ANTIBODY

The Anti-Jo-1 antibody, a specific autoantibody often found in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), targets the histidyl-tRNA synthetase, a crucial enzyme in protein synthesis. It’s a defining marker in IIM, prevalent in 20-30% of polymyositis (PM) and 60-70% of cases with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. While also present in dermatomyositis (DM), it’s less common compared to PM and rare in pediatric PM or DM and other connective tissue disorders. Diagnostic techniques like ELISA, CIE, and immunoblotting are highly sensitive and specific for detecting anti-Jo-1 antibodies. Detecting these antibodies aids in IIM diagnosis and classification, and their serum levels often mirror disease activity, making them valuable for monitoring the condition.