Immunoserological area--with special reference to the current topics on antinuclear antibodies

In 1948, Hargraves described the phenomenon of the LE cells and equated it with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Kunkel and his colleagues elucidated the immunochemical basis of this phenomenon, showing that it was related to the circulating autoantibodies to deoxyribonucleoprotein (DNP). Their pioneering studies led to the continuing discoveries of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and today's considerable knowledge concerning the molecular identity of antigens and further consolidation of ANA. In addition to the role of diagnostic markers, spontaneously occurring autoantibodies, including anti-PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) antibody and anticentromere antibody (ACA), turned out to be useful as powerful probes for cell biology. In this study, the sera of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) along with collagen diseases were examined for the presence of antinuclear antibodies. In using HEp-2 cells and chromosomes derived from K 562 as the substrates for the immunofluorescence method, the frequency of ANA and ACA in PBC sera were 84% and 44% respectively. Anti-DNA, antiSS-A and antiSS-B antibodies were found in one, 4 and one sera respectively. On the other hand, antibodies to nRNP, Sm and Scl-70 were not found in PBC sera. In some PBC patients with ACA, various complications related to collagen diseases were found to coexist. Our results indicated that there might be common serological abnormalities among patients with PBC, CREST syndrome and Sj?gren's syndrome.