title: Anti-nuclear RNP antibodies in two sisters.
abstract: Two sisters with clinical elements of mixed connective tissue disease were found to have anti-nuclear RNP (nRNP) antibodies. These antibodies were not found in the six other family members examined. The sisters had inherited an identical HLA haplotype A2-Bw61-Cw3-DR1 from their mother who had had Raynaud's phenomenon for several years. Analysis of peripheral lymphocyte subsets in the patients and their immediate relatives showed decreased OKT-4-positive cells in one of the patients and increased OKT-8-positive cells in both patients, their father and their brother, resulting in lower OKT 4/OKT 8 ratios in these members of the family. This is the third description of the familial occurrence of anti-nRNP antibodies and it adds further evidence for the implication of genetic factors in the development of anti-nRNP antibodies.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010375:Pedigree; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000941:Antigens; D001324:Autoantigens; D006680:HLA Antigens; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins