Development of the Anti-Ro Autoantibody Response in a Patient with systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Scofield, R. Hal; Zhang, Fenchung; Kurien, Biji T.; Anderson, Camille J.; Reichlin, Morris; Harley, John B.; Stafford, Haraldine A.
[Miscellaneous Article] Arthritis & Rheumatism. 39(10):1664-1668, October 1996.

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Objective: To characterize the initial events in anti-Ro production by a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, in whom this autoantibody is developing.

Methods: The immune response to the Ro ribonucleoprotein and other autoantigens were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgG and IgM, by isoelectric focusing, and by inhibition studies to determine apparent avidity.

Results: The patient's sera showed an oligoclonal response to Ro that increased in complexity and affinity with time. IgM anti-Ro appeared shortly before IgG anti-Ro, and disappeared as IgG anti-Ro increased in titer and affinity. IgG antiribosomal P autoantibodies also appeared during the patient's course, but in contrast to anti-Ro, were not preceded by IgM antiribosomal P.

Conclusion: These data are consistent with the Ro autoantigen being presented and processed in a manner similar to heterologous antigen, and with differences in the mechanisms that lead to the production of IgG anti-Ro autoantibodies as opposed to antiribosomal P autoantibodies.

(C) 1996, American College of Rheumatology