Anti-DNA Antibodies

High levels of serum autoantibodies against deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are observed in most patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (1, 2), therefore anti-DNA antibodies are considered valuable markers for the diagnosis of SLE.  With regard to the specificity of anti-DNA antibodies, anti-single stranded DNA (ssDNA) lgG antibodies are elicited in the early stage of SLE, whereas anti-double stranded DNA (dsDNA) lgG antibody levels correlate with the severity of SLE. On the other hand, anti-dsDNA lgM antibodies are not specific to SLE, but correlate with protection from lupus nephritis in patients with SLE (3, 4). Therefore, evaluation of immunoglobulin isotypes against individual DNA species may indicate stages and prognosis of SLE.

Anti-DNA Antibodies

References

1.  D. Koffler, V. Agnello, R. Winchester, H. G. Kunkel, The occurrence of single-stranded DNA in the serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and other diseases. J Clin Invest 52, 198-204 (1973).

2.  H. Sarvas, M. Gripenberg, M. Leirisalo-Repo, Anti-DNA antibodies: the choice of assays for routine diagnostic work. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand C 93, 13-18 (1985).

3.  H. Krippner, S. Merle, K. Jörgens, K. Pirlet, Antibodies to dsDNA and ssDNA in the immunoglobulin classes IgG and IgM: prognostic value in the course of SLE. Z Rheumatol 43, 265-271 (1984).

4.  M. Okamura et al., Significance of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies to double stranded and single stranded DNA in patients with lupus nephritis: correlation with severity of renal histology. Ann Rheum Dis 52, 14-20 (1993).