Disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus related to a range of antibodies binding DNA and synthetic polynucleotides.
Antibodies to dDNA, nDNA, Z-DNA, poly(dT), poly(I), poly(dG.dC), poly(dA.dT), and total IgG and IgM were measured in five serial bleeds from 39 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The main findings were that those patients with renal disease form a distinct subset whose antibody levels correlate well with disease activity; anti-poly(dT) antibodies showed the best overall correlation with disease activity; and discriminant functional analysis demonstrated a major improvement in correlation of disease activity with combinations of antibodies to dDNA/nDNA/Z-DNA/poly(dT) (generally 50% or more were correctly classified) than with dDNA or nDNA alone (generally less than 25% correct). Serum IgG (but not IgM) correlated significantly (p less than 0.01) with six antibodies, suggesting that polyclonal activation plays a part in the development of these antibodies, though antibody cross reactivity is not excluded.
Isenberg
D A
DA
Bloomsbury Rheumatology Research Department, Middlesex Hospital, London.
Dudeney
C
C
Williams
W
W
Todd-Pokropek
A
A
Stollar
B D
BD
D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000276:immunology; D011119:Polynucleotides / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011119:Polynucleotides; D004247:DNA