title: Idiotypic analysis of human anti-topoisomerase I autoantibodies.
abstract: Anti-topoisomerase I autoantibodies (anti-topo I) are associated with proximal scleroderma and are of prognostic significance in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. Polyclonal anti-idiotypic sera were raised against affinity-purified anti-topo I from 2 patients with scleroderma (EM, SG) and 1 healthy individual (NM). All 3 anti-topo I preparations expressed immunodominant private Ids in or near the antigen binding site of the autoantibody. Further analysis of Id-EM showed isotypic restriction to IgG and a stable Id-expression over the course of 9 years. Id-SG and Id-NM were expressed on IgG and on IgA. The idiotypic character of anti-topo I closely resembles that of anti-centromere autoantibodies which are associated with the CREST syndrome of scleroderma. The data suggest an antigen-driven process in the origin of autoantibodies in scleroderma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington 06032.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Noell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vazquez-Abad
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Earnshaw
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Rothfield
mesh_terms: D000941:Antigens; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001665:Binding Sites; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I