[The presence of antibodies directed against specific cartilagenous collagens in patients with otosclerosis].

The etiology of otosclerosis is unknown. Some investigators showed the presence of high levels of antibodies titers against type II collagen, the major cartilage collagen, proposing that the pathogenesis of otosclerosis is related to cartilaginous remnants contained in the otic capsule. Other collagens like type IX and XI, namely "Minor cartilage collagens", appear to be restricted to cartilaginous tissue. The aim of this study was to test otosclerosis patients for the presence of antibodies to these minor collagens using enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assays. Levels of antibodies to collagens type II, IX and XI were higher in these patients as compared to sex- and age-matched control subjects, while no differences were found between the levels of antibodies to collagens type I, III, VI and XI. These observations for the first time document the presence of autoantibodies against a minor collagens in patients with otosclerosis and support a possible role for collagen autoimmunity in the etiopathogenesis of otosclerosis.