Sera from patients with rheumatic diseases recognize different epitope regions on the 52-kD Ro/SS-A protein.

Patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or Sjögren's syndrome (SS) often contain autoantibodies directed to the Ro(SS-A) complex. In this study the antigenic determinants on two of the components of the Ro complex, i.e. the Ro60 and the Ro52 polypeptides, were investigated. Anti-Ro+ sera were selected by counter-immunoelectrophoresis. Depending on the detection method, 59-68% of the SLE patients produced anti-Ro but not anti-La antibody, while 72-81% of the SS patients produced both anti-Ro and anti-La antibody. Immunoprecipitation of recombinant Ro-proteins showed that 61 sera (87%) were reactive with both Ro proteins, seven sera with Ro60 only, one serum with Ro52 only, and one serum did not precipitate the proteins at all. The anti-Ro60 reactivity of human sera is strongly associated with the native form of Ro60, suggesting that conformational autoepitopes are an important feature of Ro60. In the case of Ro52, frequently the residues located between amino acids 216 and 292 were essential for reactivity with the antibodies. With 70% of the lupus sera tested this appeared to be the only region important for reactivity. The antibodies of SS patients generally recognized multiple B cell epitopes located between amino acids 55 and 292. The results of this study indicate that the antigenic determinants on Ro52 are different for autoantibodies produced by lupus patients compared with those of SS patients.     

Anti-ribosomal and ‘P-peptide’-specific autoantibodies bind to T lymphocytes

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) frequently have anti-lymphocyte autoantibodies, some of which also bind to surfaces of neurons. Since anti-ribosomal P protein autoantibodies (anti-P) from SLE patients also bind to surfaces of neurons, we hypothesized that anti-P are anti-lymphocyte antibodies. A panel of human T lymphocytes was evaluated for anti-P binding by indirect immunofluorescence. Affinity-purified anti-ribosomal antibodies were used as a source of anti-P. These autoantibodies bound to the surfaces of all transformed T cell lines tested. This binding was not mediated by Fc receptors. It was inhibitable by ribosomes. Anti-P bound to circulating T lymphocytes from healthy adults and children. They also bound to thymocytes and cord blood T cells from normal neonates. Circulating T cells from SLE patients with anti-P bound less anti-P than cells from healthy controls. Two patients were studied on multiple occasions. The capacity of their T cells to bind anti-P correlated inversely with titres of anti-ribosomal antibodies. Anti-ribosomal antibodies, other than anti-P, also appear to bind to T cells. The surface of T cells contains a protein with the size and antigenicity of the ribosomal P protein, P0. We conclude that anti-ribosomal antibodies are a subset of anti-lymphocyte autoantibodies. Their possible role in the pathogenesis of lymphopenia or lymphocyte dysfunction in SLE has to be defined in further studies.     

CDR3 regions in the preimmune VH B cell repertoire of lpr mice.

Previous studies have suggested that the CDR3 genetic element of the heavy chain variable region of autoantibodies is important in determining reactivity against self antigens, particularly against DNA. The lpr mutation was recently found to encode for a defective form of the fas protein, a molecule important for the transmission of the apoptotic signal into cells. Our aim was to determine whether CDR3 elements similar to those described for autoantibody-producing hybridomas derived from lupus-prone strains could be found in the preimmune repertoire of B cells in mice with the lpr mutation. The analysis of the junctions of the VH-C mu functional rearrangements derived by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of RNA obtained from splenic small, resting cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from male lpr mice showed that a large proportion of them expressed D genes in the unusual reading frames 2 and 3. Two of the lpr joints were formed by D-D fusions. Similarly, nearly half of the lpr sequences had arginines, an amino acid which promotes binding to dsDNA and is seldom observed in normal junctions. Our results show that the preimmune repertoire of lpr animals has abnormal CDR3 elements which may result from a failure at different levels of selection. The antigen-dependent selection of such elements that leads to the expansion of specific, high-affinity anti-dsDNA antibody-producing clones might depend on other genetic factors not found in the C57B1/6-lpr strains but in the MRL-lpr.     

Analysis of autoantibody production in SCID-systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) chimeras.

Mice with SCID disease have previously been successfully engrafted with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from normal individuals and from patients with various diseases. To determine whether SCID mice engrafted with SLE PBMC produced autoantibodies with specificities similar to those in the SLE donor, and to investigate which variables influence autoantibody production in the SCID recipients, we injected PBMC from 16 SLE patients into SCID mice and tested the recipients for autoantibodies to DNA and to five recombinant autoantigens. Ten out of 16 (68%) lupus and six out of nine (67%) normal grafts were successful as determined by the presence of human IgG greater than or equal to 5 micrograms/ml of SCID serum post-transfer. Autoantibodies to La/SSB, Ro/SSA, and RNP were detected in five out of 10 SCID-SLE recipients by ELISA and immunoblotting up to 22 weeks post-engraftment. The detection of autoantibodies in SCID-SLE mice was more closely related to autoantibody levels in donor sera than to total IgG concentrations in the SCID recipients. Autoantibody activity/mg IgG was similar in the donor and recipient sera. Histological evaluation of eight SCID-SLE mice killed 4-22 weeks post-transfer revealed population of the SCID thymus and spleen with mononuclear cells, but no evidence of lupus nephritis or dermatitis. These findings indicate that SCID mice can be engrafted with PBMC from patients with lupus and that specific autoantibodies are produced up to 5 months post-transfer. Failure to develop glomerulonephritis may be explained by low or absent anti-DNA antibodies or by changes in the cellular composition of the PBMC grafts.     

Anti-5S RNA/protein (RNP) antibody levels correlate with disease activity in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nephritis.

A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and nephritis without antibodies to dsDNA but with antibodies to a 5S RNA/protein (RNP) complex is presented. Combined RNA precipitation and Western blotting experiments strongly suggested that these newly identified autoantibodies recognized a distinct epitope on the L5 ribosomal protein of the L5/5S RNP complex first described by Steitz et al. [1]. Quantification of the anti-5S RNP antibody levels was done by hybridizing Northern blots of immunoprecipitated RNA from serial serum samples with a 32P-labelled oligoprobe specific for the 5S ribosomal RNA. These studies revealed a strong association between anti-5S RNP autoantibody titre and severity of SLE nephritis over a 3-year prospective study. Our results indicate that the L5/5S RNP can be a target of autoimmune response, and and may serve, in some cases, as marker of SLE severity and response to therapy.     

Macrophage depletion decreases IgG anti-DNA in cultures from (NZB x NZW)F1 spleen cells by eliminating the main source of IL-6.

We have studied the role of macrophages in the production of IgG anti-DNA autoantibodies by (NZB x NZW)F1 mice (B/W). One of the main features of the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like disease that affects these mice, is the presence of circulating IgG autoantibodies and immune complexes, which lead to renal failure and death by the age of 8-9 months. IgG autoantibodies are produced without in vitro stimulation by total spleen cells from these mice when they reach the age of 6 months. We have demonstrated that IL-6 increases the production of IgG autoantibodies in cultures of splenic purified B cells from the old B/W mice. The aim of this study was to show the involvement of macrophages in the production of IL-6 and consequently in the production of IgG anti-DNA antibodies in vitro. We show that elimination of the macrophages by different treatments led to reduction of the content of IL-6 in the supernatants as well as of IgG anti-DNA autoantibodies. Addition of fresh, splenic or peritoneal macrophages restored the production of autoantibodies in macrophage-depleted cultures from old B/W mice. There were no differences in the capacity of IL-6 production between macrophages from old or young B/W mice, but an important difference was observed between peritoneal and splenic macrophages, where the former produced much higher levels of IL-6, and consequently were more potent inducers of IgG autoantibodies. The present results reinforce the role of macrophages and IL-6 in the production of IgG anti-DNA autoantibodies in B/W mice. The implications of these results in the pathogenesis of the disease are discussed.     

Inhibition of histone/anti-histone reactivity by histone-binding serum components; differential effect on anti-H1 versus anti-H2B antibodies.

IgG fractions were purified on a protein G-agarose column from sera of both systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and healthy donors. All IgG fractions, after elution with 0.5 M acetic acid, reacted with histones in an anti-histone ELISA assay, and IgG anti-histone activity was in all instances higher in the IgG fraction than in the corresponding whole serum. This was shown to be due to the presence in serum of histone-binding components that inhibited IgG binding to histones. Both normal human and SLE patients' sera had these histone-binding components, and disparity between serum-positive and -negative anti-histone antibody (AHA) tests was not dependent on differences in the blocking capacity but on IgG antibody levels and avidity. Interaction of normal serum IgG fraction with all five histones was of low avidity, whereas interaction of IgG from AHA-positive SLE sera with both H1 and H2B had high avidity. Low-affinity antibodies to every histone fraction, but also high-affinity anti-H1 antibodies, were preferentially inhibited. Our data indicate that several serum protein components are inhibiting histone/anti-histone interaction and may play a protective role against both high-affinity anti-H1 antibodies present in SLE patients, and natural, low-affinity, anti-histone antibodies. As some acute phase proteins, notably C-reactive protein, bind to histones, it is conceivable that they play such a role. High-affinity anti-H2B antibodies, present in some SLE patients, and not inhibited by these serum components, may, on the other hand, participate in the pathogenesis of the disease.     

Autoantibodies against eukaryotic protein L7 in patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus and progressive systemic sclerosis: frequency and correlation with clinical, serological and genetic parameters. The SLE Study Group.

Recent studies have shown that sera of patients suffering from systemic autoimmune diseases contain autoantibodies directed against the eukaryotic ribosomal protein L7 [1]. In the present study we screened a large panel of sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for the presence of anti-L7 autoantibodies and their relationship to clinical, serological and genetic parameters of SLE. By means of an ELISA employing recombinant protein L7 as antigen we detected anti-L7 autoantobodies in 172 of 506 SLE sera (34%). Negative correlations were observed between the presence of anti-L7 autoantibodies, serum IgG levels and proteinuria; a potentially positive relationship existed with lung fibrosis. In order to analyse further this possibility we screened sera of 129 patients suffering from progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) for anti-L7 reactivity; 45 of these patients had lung fibrosis. Of the PSS patients, 41% exhibited anti-L7 autoantibodies, but positive reactions were evenly distributed among patients with and without lung fibrosis. Protein L7 thus represents a major autoantigen of systemic autoimmune diseases, but does not so far define a distinct subpopulation of patients.     

Evaluation of antigen-based heteropolymer for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus in a nonhuman primate model

Autoantibodies that react with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) are a hallmark for diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are also considered the pathogenic subset that is most associated with lupus nephritis. As an agent to remove the pathogenic dsDNA antibodies from the circulation of SLE patients, we are developing an antigen-based heteropolymer (AHP). The AHP consists of a monoclonal antibody to the complement receptor (CR1) cross-linked to salmon testis dsDNA to effect clearance of anti-DNA antibodies by binding them to erythrocyte CR1. Utilizing a cynomolgus monkey model for SLE in which we infused plasma from SLE patients containing a high titer of high-avidity anti-dsDNA antibody, we have evaluated the safety and efficacy of AHP infusion. The results demonstrate that AHP rapidly (within 2 min of infusion) binds to monkey erythrocytes without causing any toxicological effects. We also demonstrate that human Ig (G+M) antibodies are rapidly bound to the AHP-erythrocyte complex. These events are mirrored in their kinetics by a substantial drop in the level of high-avidity dsDNA antibody in the plasma.     

Recent advances in understanding the clinical utility and underlying cause of antinucleosome (antichromatin) autoantibodies

The clinical utility of measuring antinucleosome autoantibodies (also known as antichromatin) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has recently been evaluated by a number of different groups. Many studies found that antinucleosome autoantibodies were more prevalent than anti-DNA in SLE patients. In addition, antinucleosome autoantibodies were usually found to correlate with glomerulonephritis or disease activity better than anti-DNA in these patients. Antinucleosome autoantibodies are also found in patients with drug-induced lupus and Type I autoimmune hepatitis, but not usually in other diseases, thus showing good specificity for the above diseases. Several studies have shown that individuals with SLE have T cells reactive with nucleosomes and have increased levels of nucleosomes in their sera. The antinucleosome response in murine models of SLE is also T-cell-dependent and appears to be driven by self antigen. Nucleosome-antinucleosome immune complexes bind to glomeruli in vitro, and antinucleosome autoantibodies have been eluted from the kidneys of people and mice with glomerulonephritis. In one strain of mouse it was shown that antinucleosome autoantibodies were necessary, but not sufficient, to cause glomerulonephritis. These findings all show that antinucleosome autoantibodies are a sensitive and specific diagnostic marker for SLE and contribute to the pathology of glomerulonephritis.     

Toll样受体7及I型干扰素通路在系统性红斑狼疮中的作用研究

探讨Toll样受体7(TLR7)及I型干扰素(IFN-α)通路在系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)发病中的作用。采用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测42例SLE患者和34例正常人外周血TLR7mRNA以及4个干扰素调节基因mRNA的表达水平,同时观察TLR7mRNA的表达量与SLE疾病活动相关指标和干扰素积分(IFN score)的关系。结果,SLE患者外周血TLR7mRNA的表达水平显著增高;TLR7mRNA的表达水平与SLEDAI积分、肾脏损伤指数、抗双链DNA(dsDNA)抗体、抗RNA相关抗体水平及干扰素积分呈正相关;与补体C3、C4、白细胞数呈负相关。TLR7—IFN-α通路可能参与了SLE的病理过程。     

Molecular defects of the C7 gene in two patients with complement C7 deficiency

Different genetic mutations have been described in complement components resulting in total or subtotal deficiency states. In this work we report the genetic basis of C7 deficiency in a previously reported Spanish patient exhibiting a combined total deficiency of C7 and C4B associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Exon-specific polymerase chain reaction and sequencing revealed a not previously described single base mutation in exon 10 (T1458A) leading to a stop codon that causes the premature truncation of the C7 protein (C464X). Additionally, a C to A transversion at position 1561 (exon 11) was found in the patient resulting in an amino acid change (R499S). This latter mutation has been previously reported in individuals with subtotal C7 deficiency or with combined subtotal C6/C7 deficiency from widely spaced geographical areas. Another novel mutation was found in a second patient with meningococcal meningitis of Bolivian and Czech origin; a 11-base pair deletion of nucleotides 631-641 in exon 6 leading to the generation of a downstream stop codon causing the premature truncation of the C7 protein product (T189 x 193). This patient was found to be a heterozygous compound for another mutation in C7; a two-base pair deletion of nucleotides 1922 and 1923, 1923 and 1924 or 1924 and 1925 in exon 14 (1922delAG/1923delGA/1924delAG), leading again to the generation of a downstream stop codon that provokes the truncation of the C7 protein (S620x630). This latter mutation has been recently reported by our group in another Spanish family. Our results provide more evidences for the heterogeneous molecular basis of C7 deficiency.     

Epitope mapping of the 52-kD Ro/SSA autoantigen.

Autoantibodies to Ro/SSA are commonly found in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary Sjögren's syndrome. The presence of these antibodies is related to lymphopenia, photosensitive dermatitis, and pulmonary and renal disease, suggesting that they have an immunopathologic role [1-6]. We previously isolated a cDNA clone which encodes the 52-kD human Ro/SSA protein. In this study we have determined the number and location of epitopes recognized by SLE sera using recombinant proteins encoded by the full-length or overlapping subclones of this cDNA. An immunodominant epitope was detected using Western blots and ELISA on the NH2-terminal side of this protein's putative leucine zipper. The data suggest that 11 amino acids are critical for the recognition of this molecule by these autoantibodies. Although the titres of anti-52-kD Ro/SSA antibodies vary between different patient sera, no heterogeneity in the location of antigenic epitopes to which their autoantibodies bound was detected. This homogeneous pattern of reactivity to a single rather than multiple regions of this protein is unusual for lupus autoantigens which have been identified, and suggests that these antibodies may have arisen as by a cross-reaction to an epitope on another molecule.     

The role of CD4CD25 T cells in autoantibody production in murine lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by the loss of tolerance to self-antigen. Because it is currently not known if regulatory T (T(reg)) cells are involved in the pathogenesis, we determined the frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells and assayed the related gene expression levels in CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells isolated from both lupus mice (NZB/NZW F(1)) and normal control mice (DBA2/NZW F(1)). The results showed that the frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in lupus mice was lower than that of normal mice. Except for the high expression level of interleukin (IL)-10 mRNA, CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from lupus mice expressed normal forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta mRNA, and exerted suppressive functions. Furthermore, we depleted CD25(+) T(reg) cells of non-autoimmune mice with anti-CD25 antibody and broke their tolerance with apoptotic cell-pulsed dendritic cells for the follow-up of autoantibody levels. The mice in the CD25(+) cell-depleted group had higher titres of anti-double-strand/single-strand DNA antibodies than those of the isotype control antibody-treated group. These findings indicated that CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells might be involved in the regulatory mechanism of autoantibody production.     

Presence of antibodies to replication protein A in some patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Presence of antibodies directed against replication protein A (RPA), a DNA binding protein complex composed of three subunits (RPA-70, RPA-32 and RPA-14) was investigated among patients with SLE and other autoimmune diseases using immunoblot analysis to RPA-70 and RPA-32 recombinant proteins. Anti-RPA antibodies were found in two out of 108 sera from SLE patients, one of them showing reactivity against RPA-32 and RPA-70 and the other reacting only against RPA-32. Sera from 108 patients with other autoimmune disorders as well as from 42 healthy control individuals were negative. Thus, the frequency of these antibodies in SLE is estimated to be 2–3%. The study demonstrates that RPA is one target more of the wide array of autoantigens that elicit an immune response in SLE. The presence of anti-RPA autoantibodies seems to be circumscribed to a small number of patients with SLE.     

Specificity of Monoclonal Anti-nucleosome Auto-antibodies Derived from Lupus Mice

Recently, anti-nucleosome antibodies, which do not bind to DNA or to individual histones, have been identified in longitudinal studies in lupus mice. These anti-nucleosome antibodies occur early in spontaneous SLE and are formed prior to other anti-nuclear specificities. However, nucleosomal epitopes are yet to be fully characterized. We selected a panel of six monoclonal anti-nucleosome antibodies (mAbs) (#2, #32, #34, PL2-6, LG8-1 and LG10-1) derived from lupus mice. These mAbs were tested in ELISA on subnucleosome structures and on a panel of 53 histone peptides, covering the entire sequence of the five histones. Two mAbs reacted with one of these peptides, but the reactivity hardly exceeded the background reactivity. Based on the nucleosome and subnucleosome ELISA we identified different recognition patterns. Three mAbs showed the highest reactivity towards the intact nucleosome. For two of them (#32 and LG8-1) the nucleosomal epitope was primarily located on H2A-H2B/DNA, whereas for mAb #34 this primary epitope was located on H3/H4/DNA. Two mAbs (#2 and PL2-6) showed the highest reactivity with H2A-H2B/DNA and one mAb (LG10-1) recognized H3-H4/DNA. In the subnucleosome ELISA all but one (mAb #32) recognized more than one epitope, including DNA complexed to a variety of cationic molecules. Comparing these reactivities we identified for all mAbs one specific nucleosomal epitope, whereas reactivity with other subnucleosomes was comparable to the reactivity towards DNA complexed with cationic molecules. In inhibition experiments both in ELISA and in immunofluorescence it was found that only one of the mAbs (i.e. PL2-6), recognizing an epitope on H2A-H2B/DNA as primary epitope, could be inhibited by H2A-H2B/DNA in fluid phase. The two mAbs recognizing an epitope on H3-H4/DNA as primary epitope could be inhibited by H3-H4/DNA in fluid phase. From these analyses, we conclude first that for these nucleosome specific mAbs linear histone peptides are not very important. Second, that these mAbs all recognize different epitopes on both H2A/H2B-DNA and H3/H4-DNA and third that some solid phase H2A/H2B-DNA epitopes are not expressed on fluid phase H2A/H2B-DNA. Our findings suggest that in SLE the nucleosome can act as auto-antigen and that there is no immunodominant β cell epitope within the nucleosome.     

Similar frequency of autoantibodies against 70-kD class heat-shock proteins in healthy subjects and systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Stress or heat-shock proteins may be involved in the initiation and perpetuation of autoimmune diseases. In order to investigate a possible role of autoantibodies against the 70-kD family of heat-shock proteins in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), sera of SLE patients and healthy subjects were tested for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies to 70-kD class proteins. These proteins were purified by affinity chromatography on ATP-agarose and used in Western blotting studies. The data obtained revealed that antibodies to the 72-kD and the 73-kD heat-shock proteins occurred with similar frequencies both in healthy subjects and SLE patients. Thus, approximately 20% of the sera in each group contained IgG antibodies, and IgM antibodies were detected in about 30% of the sera tested. Moreover, in SLE patients no association between the occurrence and litre of these antibodies and disease activity was found. These data suggest that antibodies to the 70-kD class heat-shock proteins are naturally occurring and argue therefore against an involvement of these antibodies in the pathogenesis of SLE.     

Polyanions inhibit binding of autoantibodies with some cell proteins

Research Institute of Medical Radiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Obninsk. Institute of Clinical Cardiology, All-Union Cardiologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. A. Nasonova.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 110, No. 7, pp. 75–76, July, 1990.     

Autoantibodies in human anti-Ro sera specifically recognize deproteinized hY5 Ro RNA.

We report the existence of a novel autoantibody specificity linked to anti-Ro antibodies. Sera from two patients with anti-Ro ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibodies also contained antibodies that immunoprecipitated specifically either the deproteinized RNA component of the RohY5 RNP particle, or intact in vitro transcribed hY5 RNA. No serum recognized specifically the other hY RNAs. A mutant hY5 RNA with additional nucleotides (nt) at both extremities was not immunoprecipitated, possibly because of altered secondary structure. Following digestion of hY5 RNA with ribonuclease T1, the smallest immunoprecipitable RNA fragments were 27 and 31 nt long, and respectively mapped to the 5' and 3' ends of hY5 RNA, excluding the La-binding region. Base pairing between the 27 and 31 nt long fragments was required for recognition by antibodies. Our data indicate that the epitope bound by anti-hY5 RNA antibodies is conformational. We have previously reported that most anti-Ro sera contain a population of antibodies specific for the RohY5 RNP. Since antibodies to the deproteinized hY RNAs within anti-Ro sera are also restricted to anti-hY5 RNA, a direct role for the human-specific RohY5 particles in the immunization process leading to the production of anti-Ro antibodies is suggested.     

Pure anti-dsDNA mAbs need chromatin structures to promote glomerular mesangial deposits in BALB/c mice

The glomerular targets for nephritogenic antibodies have been identified as membrane-associated chromatin fragments. The processes responsible for their deposition are poorly understood. To determine early events in antibody-mediated nephritis, we injected highly pure anti-dsDNA mAbs into BALB/c mice. Mice receiving one dose of anti-dsDNA mAbs were sacrificed 6 or 24 h later. No direct binding of mAbs to glomerular membranes or to the mesangial matrix was observed by immune electron microscopy. In contrast, repeated injections of the same antibodies over 4 weeks resulted in deposition of electron dense structures predominantly in the mesangial matrix. These structures contained mAbs and chromatin fragments as determined by co-localization immune electron microscopy. Biotinylated anti-dsDNA mAbs, injected into nephritic (NZB × NZW)F1 or MRL^lpr/lpr mice were detected in newly formed electron dense structures within glomerular capillary membranes. There were no correlation between mAb affinity for DNA, as determined by surface plasmon resonance analyses, and ability to bind chromatin fragments in vivo. No direct binding of mAbs to inherent membrane antigens was observed. Quantification of DNA in sera before and after one single injection of antibodies revealed increased DNA levels at 6 h after injection of anti-dsDNA mAb, and lower levels after 24 h. Repeated injections of anti-dsDNA caused an increase in circulating DNA. These results indicate that availability of chromatin fragments, presumable in circulation, is important for glomerular mesangial matrix deposition of anti-dsDNA antibody-containing immune complexes in context of lupus nephritis.