Open AccessCorrelates between autoantibodies to nucleolar antigens and clinical features in patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)
Author(s) -
Reimer Georg,
Steen Virginia D.,
Penning Carol A.,
Medsger Thomas A.,
Tan Eng M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780310409
Subject(s) - fibrillarin , autoantibody , scleroderma (fungus) , antibody , pathology , staining , antigen , medicine , morphea , serology , immunofluorescence , titer , immunology , biology , nucleolus , lichen sclerosus , nucleus , inoculation , psychiatry
Immunofluorescence on rat liver sections was used to select high‐titer antinucleolar antibodies (ANoA) in the sera of patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). In 646 patients, 53 ANoA sera (8%) were identified, and of these, 46 were available in sufficient quantities for further analysis. The complex of RNA polymerase I was immunoprecipitated by 7 sera (15%), which uniformly produced punctate nucleolar staining. The PM‐Scl antigen, a particle consisting of 11 polypep‐tides, was immunoprecipitated by 8 sera (17%), all of which displayed homogeneous nucleolar staining. A 34‐kd nucleolar protein (fibrillarin) of the U3 RNP complex was positive in immunoblotting of 22 sera (48%), which characteristically produced clumpy nucleolar staining. Antibodies against RNA polymerase I were associated with diffuse scleroderma of short duration, which was characterized by a high prevalence of internal organ involvement, including renal crisis. Anti‐U3 RNP antibodies had a high prevalence in men with significantly less joint involvement, compared with ANoA‐negative patients. Anti–PM‐Scl antibodies identified a group of scleroderma patients with a high prevalence of concomitant myositis and renal involvement.