title: Antibodies against ss-DNA in persons of various age.
abstract: Antibodies against denatured, single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid were measured in the sera of children, young adults and old persons by means of a solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a peroxidase-labelled second antibody. Considerable amounts of anti-deoxyribonucleic acid antibodies were found in subjects in all the age groups studied. Mean serum activity in children and old persons was two times as high as that in young adults. Close correlation was observed in old age between the level of antibodies against single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid and disorders of lipid metabolism, namely hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia. Based on their finding that substantial quantities of antibodies of the above type appear to be present in healthy humans at different stages of ontogenesis, the authors suggest these autoantibodies may play, in addition to pathological, some physiological role.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded