title: Autoantibodies against Cajal bodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cajal bodies (CB) are distinct sub-nuclear domains rich in small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs); they are involved in pre-mRNA processing. Lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production against different nuclear molecules, including those involved in pre-mRNA processing. The aim of the present investigation is to assess the presence of anti-CB autoantibodies in a cohort of SLE sera.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were screened by indirect immunofluorescence in a batch of 190 sera from patients who met the ACR criteria for SLE classification; fine specificity was determined by Western blot using HEp-2 cells or rat hepatocyte extracts purified by ion exchange chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four sera had anti-Cajal body (CB) autoantibodies. Interestingly, all of these patients had intermittent extensive oral and esophageal ulceration. The autoantibodies to CB were of the IgG class, and by Western blot these sera had reactivity against an 80 kDa protein (coilin) associated with Sm proteins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-CB autoantibodies constitute an uncommon specificity of SLE; therefore it seems that anti-CB antibody specificity is associated with extensive mucous ulceration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Centro de Biología Experimental, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Mexico.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Talavera
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Sandoval
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esparza Ibarra
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avalos-Díaz
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrera-Esparza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000737:chemistry; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002845:Chromatography; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020541:Coiled Bodies / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000737:chemistry; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012333:RNA, Messenger