Open AccessThe detection and identification of antibodies to saline extractable nuclear antigens by counterimmunoelectrophoresis
Author(s) -
Keiser Harold D.,
Weinstein Joshua
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780230910
Subject(s) - counterimmunoelectrophoresis , precipitin , antigen , antibody , lupus erythematosus , extractable nuclear antigens , immunology , immunoelectrophoresis , hemagglutination , immunodiffusion , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , anti nuclear antibody , biology , autoantibody
Abstract Sera containing antibodies to the saline extractable nuclear antigens RNP, Sm, and Ha can be identified with counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) by matching their precipitin reactions to those of reference sera. The CIE reaction of Sm is unusual in that two preciptin lines are formed, one of which shows partial immunologic identity with the reaction to RNP. Sera were identified with the reaction to RNP. Sera were identified by CIE which reacted with additional acidic antigens in rabbit thymus extract, some of which had the same enzyme sensitivity profiles as RNP and Ha but were immunologically not identical and could not be detected by hemagglutination with red cells coated with calf thymus nuclear extract. Although the incidence of reactivity to RNP, Sm, and Ha was similar to previous reports, review of the clinical manifestations of 128 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) did not provide statistically significant confirmation of previously to reactivity and particular patterns of disease expression. With due attention paid to technical artifacts, CIE is a sensitive and specific method for identifying sera reactive with acidic nuclear antigens that has practical advantages over alternative methods.