Serologic studies of monozygotic twins with systemic lupus erythematosus. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: The goal of these studies was to assess the role of genetic factors and disease expression in the pattern and titer of autoantibodies to several RNA protein antigens in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by studying identical twins concordant and discordant for disease expression. METHODS: Autoantibodies to Ro/SS-A, La/SS-B, U1 RNP, and Sm were measured by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using affinity-purified antigens. RESULTS: Detailed serologic studies were performed in 7 pairs of identical twins, 3 of whom were concordant and 4 of whom were discordant for disease expression. Autoantibody titers were higher in affected than in unaffected twins from discordant pairs, but in 3 of 4 pairs, the profile of anti-RNA proteins (e.g., Ro/SS-A, La/SS-B, U1 RNP, and Sm) was virtually identical. In the SLE pairs concordant for disease expression, the autoantibody titers were very similar, as were the anti-RNA protein profiles. When the identical twins were matched by sex, race, and age to pairs of nontwin SLE patients, the 6 white twins shared an average of 2.5 (+/- 1.05 SD) anti-RNA proteins, while the control SLE pairs shared only 0.33 (+/- 0.82), P less than 0.01 (t = 4.0, P less than 0.01). In addition, in the white SLE twins, all had elevated levels of anti-U1 RNP while in white nontwin SLE patients, the frequency of anti-U1 RNP was 30%. CONCLUSION: These data point to a dominant role for genetic factors in the determination of specific autoantibody profiles.

publication date

  • April 1, 1992

Research

keywords

  • Antigen-Antibody Reactions
  • Diseases in Twins
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
  • Twins, Monozygotic

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0026689909

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/art.1780350416

PubMed ID

  • 1567495

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 35

issue

  • 4