Fibroblast monolayers as substrates for the demonstration and analysis of anti-nuclear autoantibodies.
Monolayers of acetone-fixed cultured fibroblasts were compared with frozen tissue sections as substrates for the immunofluorescent demonstration of anti-nuclear autoantibodies (ANA) in 8 sera. Fibroblast monolayers gave more readily recognizable nuclear staining patterns and more intense staining reactions. Pretreatment of acetone-fixed monolayers with DNase, RNase, trypsin, 2M NaCl or 0.2 HCl before exposure to test sera, permitted analysis of the nature of the ANA-reactive nuclear antigens and unmasked "hidden" anti-nucleolar and possibly antinuclear matrix autoantibodies in 4 sera with homogeneous ANA reactivity. The observations suggest that autoantibodies to nucleoli may be commoner than hitherto reported and that fibroblast monolayers may prove to be a useful ancillary substrate for the diagnosis and analysis of ANA.
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D051381:Rats; D012260:Ribonucleases; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014357:Trypsin
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D012260:Ribonucleases; D014357:Trypsin