20 Molecular and Cell Biology of Autoantibodies and Autoimmunity
These studies demonstrate that the antinuclear antibodies, especially those
characteristics of the human connective tissue disease, are generated during the
development of a GVH disease in mice. Hence, we conclude that chronic graft ver-
sus host disease in mice provides a model for the study of the autoimmune
responses that characterize human non-organ specific autoimmune diseases.
Immunogenetic Studies in Patients with Scleroderma-Associated
Autoantibodies
E. Genth, R. Mierau, P. Genetzky
Rheumaklinik und Rheumaforschungsinstitut, Aachen, FRG
Patients with precipitation autoantibodies to DNA-topoisomerase I (n = 30),
Pm-Scl (n = 12), or centromer-antibodies found by indirect immunofluorescent
test (n = 36) were serologicaly studied for HLA class I and II antigens as well as
immunoglobulin G (Gm) heavy chain and Kappa (Km) light chain allotypes.
Healthy blood donors served as controls for HLA-typing (n = 85), Gm (n = 251)
and Km (n = 120) testing.
Patients with anti-DNA topoisomerase I were more frequently HLA-DR5
positive (70% vs. 30.6%, pex = 0.0002, RR = 5.3) whereas HLA-DRw6 was less
frequent than in controls (3.3% vs. 21.2%, pex = 0.0231, RR = 0.13). All patients
with Pm-Scl-antibodies were positive for HLA-DR3 (vs. 23.5%; pex = 0.0001),
and 6 patients carried the DR3/4 phenotype (50% vs. 3.5%; pex = 0.0001,
RR = 27.6). Patients with centromere antibodies significantly more frequently
had HLA-DR1, 4 or 8 (75% vs. 41.2%, pex = 0.0007, RR = 4.3) and less fre-
quently HLA-DR2, 6 or 7 (19.4% vs. 69.4%, p^ = 0.0001, RR = 0.11). The phe-
notype frequencies of immunoglobulin allotypes did not differ in patients with
different scleroderma associated autoantibodies and control subjects.
We conclude the different types of scleroderma associated autoantibodies
originate in association with different MHC class II antigens.
These studies demonstrate that the antinuclear antibodies, especially those
characteristics of the human connective tissue disease, are generated during the
development of a GVH disease in mice. Hence, we conclude that chronic graft ver-
sus host disease in mice provides a model for the study of the autoimmune
responses that characterize human non-organ specific autoimmune diseases.
Immunogenetic Studies in Patients with Scleroderma-Associated
Autoantibodies
E. Genth, R. Mierau, P. Genetzky
Rheumaklinik und Rheumaforschungsinstitut, Aachen, FRG
Patients with precipitation autoantibodies to DNA-topoisomerase I (n = 30),
Pm-Scl (n = 12), or centromer-antibodies found by indirect immunofluorescent
test (n = 36) were serologicaly studied for HLA class I and II antigens as well as
immunoglobulin G (Gm) heavy chain and Kappa (Km) light chain allotypes.
Healthy blood donors served as controls for HLA-typing (n = 85), Gm (n = 251)
and Km (n = 120) testing.
Patients with anti-DNA topoisomerase I were more frequently HLA-DR5
positive (70% vs. 30.6%, pex = 0.0002, RR = 5.3) whereas HLA-DRw6 was less
frequent than in controls (3.3% vs. 21.2%, pex = 0.0231, RR = 0.13). All patients
with Pm-Scl-antibodies were positive for HLA-DR3 (vs. 23.5%; pex = 0.0001),
and 6 patients carried the DR3/4 phenotype (50% vs. 3.5%; pex = 0.0001,
RR = 27.6). Patients with centromere antibodies significantly more frequently
had HLA-DR1, 4 or 8 (75% vs. 41.2%, pex = 0.0007, RR = 4.3) and less fre-
quently HLA-DR2, 6 or 7 (19.4% vs. 69.4%, p^ = 0.0001, RR = 0.11). The phe-
notype frequencies of immunoglobulin allotypes did not differ in patients with
different scleroderma associated autoantibodies and control subjects.
We conclude the different types of scleroderma associated autoantibodies
originate in association with different MHC class II antigens.