Maternal autoimmune response to recombinant Ro/SSA and La/SSB proteins in Japanese neonatal lupus erythem atosus.
BACKGROUND
Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a syndrome characterized by dermatitis and congenital heart block (CHB). The disease is mostly associated with transplacental passage of maternal anti-Ro/SSA and/or La/SSB antibodies.


OBJECTIVE
To examine maternal autoimmune response to recombinant Ro/SSA and La/SSB proteins in NLE with a single ethnic background.


METHODS
This study examined 12 NLE infants and their mothers. Serum samples were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for reactivity with full-length recombinant human 60-kd Ro/SSA, 52-kd Ro/SSA, and 48-kd La/SSB proteins.


RESULTS
All 10 infants with skin lesions and/or CHB had maternal antibodies reactive to both the 60- and 52-kd Ro/SSA polypeptide components of the Ro/SSA particle. Anti-60-kd Ro/SSA without anti-52-kd Ro/SSA, or vice versa, was found in mothers of infants who had only hepatic manifestation of NLE. Nine of 12 NLE infants had anti-48-kd La/SSB.


CONCLUSIONS
In the majority of Japanese infants with NLE, maternal anti-Ro/SSA autoimmune response was directed against both of 60-kd and 52-kd recombinant Ro/SSA proteins. There was no profile of anti-Ro/SSA and La/SSB response unique to mothers of children with CHB or cutaneous manifestations of NLE.
Miyagawa
S
S
Department of Dermatology, Nara Medical University, Japan.
Fukumoto
T
T
Hashimoto
K
K
Hachiya
T
T
Yoshioka
A
A
Shirai
T
T
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D001324:Autoantigens; D015551:Autoimmunity; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D000097585:SS-B Antigen; D000099207:SS-A Antigen
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D001324:Autoantigens; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097585:SS-B Antigen; D000099207:SS-A Antigen; C116006:RO60 protein, human