A Comparative Study Showing Systemic Lupus  Erthematosus (SLE) Autoantibody Binding to  Native Calf Thymus DNA, Native Chromatin and  Nitric Oxide Modified Chromatin

Dr.Sarah Afaq

Volume : II, Issue : V, May - 2013

A Comparative Study Showing Systemic Lupus Erthematosus (SLE) Autoantibody Binding to Native Calf Thymus DNA, Native Chromatin and Nitric Oxide Modified Chromatin

Dr. Sarah Afaq

Abstract :

Objective: Antibodies to double stranded DNA (dsDNA) is a classic antibody that characterizes SLE. However; some SLE patients lack serum anti–dsDNA reactivity throughout the course of their disease. The dominant presence of antibodies against the exposed conformational epitopes on chromatin strongly suggests that the pathogenic immune response in lupus is driven by chromatin. Also, retrospective studies have suggested a role of NO in the pathogenesis of SLE by demonstrating elevated levels of NO in SLE patients. Therefore, in the present study, the binding of SLE autoantibodies to native and NO modified chromatin has been investigated. Method: In the present study, the binding of SLE autoantibodies with native calf thymus DNA, native chromatin and NO modified chromatin (NO–chromatin) were analyzed. As assessed by direct binding and inhibition ELISA, circulating SLE autoantibodies exhibited a high degree of specificity towards NO–chromatin in comparison to native chromatin and native calf thymus DNA (p