title: Can we use DNA triple helices as treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus?
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease characterized by a variable clinical course and is associated with the presence of numerous autoantibodies. Autoantibodies against double-stranded DNA are highly specific for SLE and are directly associated with distinct clinical manifestations of the disease, specifically lupus nephritis. Examination of the sequences and the three-dimensional structures of autoantibodies specific for nucleic acids, confirms the presence of positively charged amino acids which could interact with the phosphate groups of self DNA. We hypothesize that DNA triple-helices, which can be constructed using short DNA sequences, may be useful in decreasing the clinical manifestations of SLE by inhibiting anti-dsDNA autoantibodies.
authors: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Allergy/Immunology/Immunizations Service, 4954 North Palmer Road, Bethesda, MD 20889-5600, USA. Electronic address: cecilia.p.mikita.civ@health.mil.
authors: Cecilia P
authors: CP
authors: Mikita
authors: The Marine Science Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines.
authors: Eduardo A
authors: EA
authors: Padlan
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D004247:DNA