title: Modification of DNA patterns in plasma and nucleated blood cells from systemic sclerosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the DNA patterns extracted from plasma and nucleated blood cells (lymphocytes) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) with a new MFC DNA extracting kit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten SSc patients and 9 healthy controls were studied. Heparin containing blood samples were separated into plasma and buffy coat fractions and subjected to DNA extraction. The DNA pattern was revealed by 0.4% agarose electrophoresis and analyzed in a Gelblot Programme file (UVP Product).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In control samples the DNA pattern observed in plasma extract was different from that of the buffy coat. For the plasma a series of peaks ranging from 2-23 Kb were present, and for the buffy coat we usually observed 2 to 3 principle bands, respectively, at around 33 Kb and 0.5 Kb. For SSc patients the DNA patterns that resulted from the plasma and buffy coat were totally different from the control samples, with some exceptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed that SSc samples contain a distinctively different DNA pattern compared to healthy controls. Further studies are needed to establish whether or not this DNA pattern might be considered peculiar to SSc, and whether or not the method is a useful tool for pathogenic studies of the disease and for diagnostic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Centro per lo Studio delle Cellule Germinali, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche e Istituto di Biologia Generale, Università di Siena. chen@unisi.it
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fineschi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morozzi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcolongo
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galeazzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA