Nucleosome-restricted antibodies are detected before anti-dsDNA and/or antihistone antibodies in serum of MRL-Mp lpr/lpr and +/+ mice, and are present in kidney eluates of lupus mice with proteinuria.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the humoral response to nucleosomes with the response to their individual components (double-stranded DNA [dsDNA] and histones) and to assess the involvement of antinucleosome antibodies in immune deposits in the kidney of MRL mice.


METHODS
We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of sera and kidney eluates for antibody activity against purified nucleosomes, dsDNA, and histones.


RESULTS
Antinucleosome antibodies emerged before anti-dsDNA and antihistone antibodies. A fraction of antinucleosome antibodies reacted exclusively with nucleosomes and not with their components, dsDNA and histones. These nucleosome-restricted antibodies were detected in the proteinuric MRL mouse kidney eluate.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the notion that nucleosomes play a major role in the emergence of antinuclear autoantibodies and that antinucleosome antibodies might be involved in the nephritogenic process in murine lupus.
Amoura
Z
Z
Unité INSERM 25, Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.
Chabre
H
H
Koutouzov
S
S
Lotton
C
C
Cabrespines
A
A
Bach
J F
JF
Jacob
L
L
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006657:Histones / Q000276:immunology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000276:immunology*; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D006657:Histones; D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA