Relationship between sex and antibodies to high mobility group proteins 1 and 2 in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the frequencies of antibodies to high mobility group proteins 1 and 2 (HMG-1, HMG-2) in boys and girls with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).


METHODS
Sera of 60 children (44 girls, 16 boys) with JIA were screened for the presence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and antichromatin antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on eukaryotic cells and were assayed further for the presence of antibodies to purified HMG-1 and HMG-2 by enzyme immunoassays.


RESULTS
A positive test for ANA was significantly associated with the presence of antibodies to both HMG-1 and HMG-2. There was a significant association between antibodies targeting the chromosomal regions of metaphase cells and antibodies to both HMG-1 and HMG-2. Females were significantly more likely than males to have ANA, and specifically more likely to have antibodies to HMG-1. There was a significant association between the presence of antibodies to HMG proteins and chromosomal reactivity detected by IIF on HEp-2 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that females with JIA are more likely to be ANA positive than males and more likely than males to have antibodies to HMG-1.
Rosenberg
A M
AM
Department of Pediatrics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. rosenberg@sask.usask.ca
Cordeiro
D M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002843:Chromatin / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D024243:HMGB1 Protein; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D024243:HMGB1 Protein; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins