Use of molecular cloning methods to map the distribution of epitopes on topoisomerase I (Scl-70) recognized by sera of scleroderma patients.
We report the initial molecular characterization of the autoimmune response against DNA topoisomerase I (topo I; Scl-70). Sera from 36 patients with scleroderma and 4 healthy control subjects were studied using 6 subcloned portions of topo I. Twenty-three sera recognized at least 2 independent epitopes on the molecule. Therefore, anti-topo I, like other non-organ-specific autoantibodies characterized to date, is polyclonal and multifocal. The cloned protein should prove suitable for sensitive early detection of anti-topo I in the clinical setting.
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
P
P
D'Arpa
H
H
White-Cooper
D W
DW
Cleveland
N F
NF
Rothfield
W C
WC
Earnshaw
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I