DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48120#0132
114 Molecular and Cell Biology of Autoantibodies and Autoimmunity
some of the members of this family of proteins and the distinction of classes I
and II. Exciting developments in this field are expected to emerge from study of
the RNA binding properties of the potentially multivalent members of class II of
this RRM family proteins. Recent findings will be presented that the amino ter-
minal RRM of the class II snRNP proteins alone contains the specificity required
for recognition of the corresponding snRNAs.
Detection of HIV-Homologous DNA and RNA in Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus
E.F. Krapf, W. Leitmann, M. Herrmann, and J. R. Kalden
Institute for Clinical Immunology, Dept, of Int. Med. Ill, University of
Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, FRG
We recently reported the isolation of high molecular weight DNA from
plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [1]. Molecular clon-
ing showed the presence of DNA with homology to the gag-pol region of HIV 1
(referred to as clone E 6). Transfection of plasma nucleic acids (PNA) into a
human B cell line from a healthy donor (B 62) resulted in the induction of altera-
tions commonly seen in cells infected by retroviruses. The cells transfected with
PNA (B 62/SLE) showed morphological and physiological alterations absent in
B 62. Besides syncitia formation, B 62/SLE cells express additional surface
epitopes detected by immuno fluorescence using an antiserum against feline
leucemia virus (FeLV) and by Western blot analysis with SLE patients’ sera. Addi-
tional myristylated proteins were found in B 62/SLE as compared to B 62, with
molecular weights similar to those in HIV-infected cells (Fig. 1).
Northern blots using E 6-DNA as probe provided evidence for retroviral
mRNA production and suggested the presence of genomic viral RNA in
B 62/SLE. Within the detection limits of Southern blotting, proviral sequences
were found in episomal DNA of B 62/SLE cells but not in B 62. Southern blots
from total genomic DNA gave possitive results in B 62 and B 62/SLE possibly
resulting from a crossreactivity of E 6 with the endogenous human retrovirus PL 1
(Fig. 2).
In conclusion, these results suggest the presence of physiologically active
retroviral nucleic acids in B 62/SLE and SLE patients plasma. Whether these
nucleic acids are of exo- or endogenous origin needs further investigation.
some of the members of this family of proteins and the distinction of classes I
and II. Exciting developments in this field are expected to emerge from study of
the RNA binding properties of the potentially multivalent members of class II of
this RRM family proteins. Recent findings will be presented that the amino ter-
minal RRM of the class II snRNP proteins alone contains the specificity required
for recognition of the corresponding snRNAs.
Detection of HIV-Homologous DNA and RNA in Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus
E.F. Krapf, W. Leitmann, M. Herrmann, and J. R. Kalden
Institute for Clinical Immunology, Dept, of Int. Med. Ill, University of
Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, FRG
We recently reported the isolation of high molecular weight DNA from
plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [1]. Molecular clon-
ing showed the presence of DNA with homology to the gag-pol region of HIV 1
(referred to as clone E 6). Transfection of plasma nucleic acids (PNA) into a
human B cell line from a healthy donor (B 62) resulted in the induction of altera-
tions commonly seen in cells infected by retroviruses. The cells transfected with
PNA (B 62/SLE) showed morphological and physiological alterations absent in
B 62. Besides syncitia formation, B 62/SLE cells express additional surface
epitopes detected by immuno fluorescence using an antiserum against feline
leucemia virus (FeLV) and by Western blot analysis with SLE patients’ sera. Addi-
tional myristylated proteins were found in B 62/SLE as compared to B 62, with
molecular weights similar to those in HIV-infected cells (Fig. 1).
Northern blots using E 6-DNA as probe provided evidence for retroviral
mRNA production and suggested the presence of genomic viral RNA in
B 62/SLE. Within the detection limits of Southern blotting, proviral sequences
were found in episomal DNA of B 62/SLE cells but not in B 62. Southern blots
from total genomic DNA gave possitive results in B 62 and B 62/SLE possibly
resulting from a crossreactivity of E 6 with the endogenous human retrovirus PL 1
(Fig. 2).
In conclusion, these results suggest the presence of physiologically active
retroviral nucleic acids in B 62/SLE and SLE patients plasma. Whether these
nucleic acids are of exo- or endogenous origin needs further investigation.