title: Systemic lupus erythematosus. Antibodies to DNA, DNA-binding proteins, and histones.
abstract: Pathogenic autoantibodies to DNA are frequently associated with autoantibodies to chromatin-associated proteins such as histones or the Ku (p70/p80) antigens. In view of the increasing evidence that autoantibody production is antigen-driven, and because DNA is packaged with proteins in the cell, we suggest that anti-DNA antibodies may arise in response to DNA-protein complexes rather than naked DNA. Recent studies of the specificities of autoantibodies directed against the components of nucleosomes and transcriptional complexes are consistent with this hypothesis. The possible clinical significance of immune recognition of various types of chromatin complexes in autoimmune disease is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ajmani
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D004265:DNA Helicases; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000276:immunology; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000276:immunology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000276:immunology; D006657:Histones / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D000072200:Ku Autoantigen; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000276:immunology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D004265:DNA Helicases; C106893:XRCC5 protein, human; C000606509:Xrcc6 protein, human; D000072200:Ku Autoantigen