Anti-(DNA-histone) antibodies in active lupus nephritis.
OBJECTIVE
To detect and characterize anti-(DNA-histone) antibodies in patients with active lupus nephritis.


METHODS
Calf thymus double stranded DNA was reassociated with histone in vitro. Polynucleosomes were prepared from chicken erythrocyte nuclei, calf thymus nucleohistone, and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Anti-DNA activity was depleted from purified IgG using DNA-cellulose. Binding of the adsorbed IgG to various (DNA-histone) related antigens was measured by ELISA. Antigen specificity was assessed by inhibition assays and adsorption studies using histone and nucleosome conjugated sepharose beads.


RESULTS
Anti-(DNA-histone) antibodies were detected in 3 of 5 patients with active lupus nephritis. They specifically recognized determinants consisting of both DNA and histone, but not DNA or histone alone. Anti-(DNA-histone) antibodies largely overlapped with antinucleosome antibodies and appeared to react with nucleosomes released by apoptotic human mononuclear cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-(DNA-histone) antibodies are present in active lupus nephritis and largely represent antinucleosome antibodies. They may contribute to the pathogenesis of nephritis by forming immune complexes with apoptosis related nucleosomes.
Suenaga
R
R
Immunology Research Laboratory, St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri 64111, USA.
Abdou
N I
NI
D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D006657:Histones / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000276:immunology*; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000276:immunology
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000939:Epitopes; D006657:Histones; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA