Open AccessAntibodies from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sera define differential release of autoantigens from cell lines undergoing apoptosis
Author(s) -
Mary L. Huggins,
Ian Todd,
M Cavers,
Sivapriya Pavuluri,
Patrick J. Tighe,
R J Powell
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1999.01063.x
Subject(s) - autoantibody , apoptosis , immunology , antigen , antibody , autoimmune disease , autoimmunity , biology , lupus erythematosus , jurkat cells , t cell , immune system , genetics
SLE is an autoimmune disease characterized by a wide range of anti‐cellular and anti‐nuclear autoantibodies. Many of these antigens are exposed or altered during apoptosis when the nucleus is dismantled in a controlled manner by caspases. We used Western blotting techniques to demonstrate that autoantibodies in SLE sera recognize antigens released during apoptosis. Reproducible bands, not seen in the untreated cells, with the characteristics of histones were seen when staining apoptotic cell lysates with SLE sera. Normal sera recognized some of these bands but much less strongly. Different triggers of apoptosis did not produce marked differences in the antigens recognized. We also compared different cell lines (Jurkat and U937) and found that the staining differed for one autoantigen in particular. The differential release of autoantigens by apoptotic cells may have relevance to the variety of autoantibodies seen in SLE.