title: Antibodies to nuclear antigens in Graves' disease.
abstract: A recent publication reported a high prevalence of double-stranded DNA antibodies quantitated by RIA in patients with Graves' disease. We, therefore, measured antibodies to a variety of nuclear antigens in 20 patients with Graves' disease, most of whom where hyperthyroid. Fluorescent antinuclear antibody tests using HEp-2 cells as substrate were positive in serum of 15 of the 20 patients but in only 2 of 20 normal subjects. DNA binding, determined by RIA, was increased in 12 of 18 patients with Graves' disease. However, a more specific indirect immunofluorescence assay for antibodies to double-stranded DNA using Crithidia luciliae was negative in all 20 patients. Furthermore, antibodies to single-stranded DNA, measured by counterimmunoelectrophoresis, and ribonucleoprotein and Sm antigens, measured by double diffusion in agar, were undetectable in all patients tested. These results demonstrate a high frequency of antinuclear antibody in patients with Graves' disease. The presence of antibodies to double-stranded DNA was not confirmed when assayed by the highly specific and sensitive Crithidia luciliae method, suggesting nonantibody DNA binding in the DNA RIA.
authors.affiliation: Section of Rheumatology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport 71130.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Baethge
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000032:analysis; D003421:Crithidia; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007123:Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001324:Autoantigens; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins; D004247:DNA