Fluctuations of antibody to ribosomal P proteins correlate with appearance and remission of nephritis in SLE.
Antibodies to ribosomal P proteins are found in widely variable proportions (up to 42%) of patients with SLE depending on the ethnic background of the patient population. Neuropsychiatric disease was first recognized to have increased prevalence with anti-P and more recently liver and renal disease.  We describe four patients with SLE and circumscribed episodes of nephritis of relatively short duration.  In two patients, antibodies to ribosomal P protein were the only specificity detected at the time of appearance of active nephritis; and in the other two patients, the appearance and disappearance of anti-ribosomal P was simultaneously found with similar fluctuations in anti-dsDNA titers.  Anti-ribosomal P antibodies were measured by Western blot and a P peptide-specific ELISA. These data raise the possibility for a pathogenic role for anti-ribosomal P antibodies in lupus nephritis.
Martin
A L
AL
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Department of Medicine, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73104, USA.
Reichlin
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; C064601:L12E protein, Trypanosoma cruzi; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins