title: Unmasking of anti-ribosomal P autoantibodies in healthy individuals.
abstract: Autoantibodies to the ribosomal P proteins (anti-P) are found almost exclusively in a subset of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. To determine if anti-P autoantibodies are present in healthy individuals but in a masked state, sera from healthy adults were applied to affinity columns coated with ribosomes, and the affinity-purified fractions were analyzed for anti-P Abs by ELISA and immunoblot. Anti-P Abs were detectable in serum only after affinity chromatography, were predominantly of the IgG isotype, stained HEp-2 cells in the characteristic anti-P pattern, and demonstrated specificity for all three ribosomal P phosphoproteins. Using batch affinity chromatography, we identified anti-P autoantibodies in the affinity-purified serum fractions of 54 of 55 healthy individuals. Anti-P Abs from healthy adults generally bound less ribosomal P Ag per mg/ml IgG than anti-P from patients. Inhibition studies revealed that autologous serum contained an IgG inhibitor of anti-P Ab. We conclude that masked anti-P autoantibodies are present in the healthy population and hypothesize that detection of these autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus represents disruption of these regulatory networks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73104, USA.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reichlin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000737:chemistry; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C064601:L12E protein, Trypanosoma cruzi; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins