Racial differences in the distribution of systemic sclerosis-related serum antinuclear antibodies.
OBJECTIVE
To determine racial differences in the frequencies of systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related serum antinuclear antibodies (ANA).


METHODS
We tested serum samples from 275 Japanese, 416 North American Caucasian, and 24 North American black SSc patients for 8 SSc-related serum ANA, using indirect immunofluorescence, double immunodiffusion, and radioimmunoprecipitation assays.


RESULTS
In comparing the 3 racial groups, we found that anti-U1 RNP, anti-RNA polymerase I, II, and III, and anti-U3 RNP antibodies were the most frequently detected antibodies in Japanese, Caucasian, and black patients, respectively. Anti-PM-Scl antibody was found exclusively in Caucasians.


CONCLUSIONS
The production of SSc-related serum ANA is related to immunogenetic background.
Kuwana
M
M
Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Okano
Y
Y
Kaburaki
J
J
Tojo
T
T
Medsger
T A
TA
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D044466:Asian People; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000276:immunology; D044383:Black People; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000276:immunology; D014481:United States; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear