Antigen DNA isolated from immune complexes in plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus hybridizes with the Escherichia coli lac Z gene.

Antigen DNA was isolated from immune complexes in plasma of three patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using affinity column. The antigen DNA thus obtained was subjected to hybridization experiments in order to investigate its origin. Unexpectedly, plasmid pUC18 used as a probe was found to hybridize with the antigen DNA, pUC18 was then cleaved into three fragments with the restriction enzyme HaeII. A 445-bp fragment containing lac Z DNA hybridized with the antigen DNA. Finally, the lacZ DNA itself was found to hybridize with the antigen DNA. These data strongly suggest that the antigen DNA obtained from three patients is of bacterial origin.