AUTOANTIBODIES TO THE HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN HSP73 IN LOCALIZED SCLERODERMA

We determined the presence of antibodies to the heat-shock protein hsp 73 (anti-hsp73) in 57 serum samples from patients with localized scler oderma using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition , 30 samples from healthy individuals, 30 from patients systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 32 from patients with systemic sclerosis were assessed, IgG and/or IgM anti-hsp73 antibodies were detected in 33% ( 19/57) of the patients with localized scleroderma, Among the three sub types of localized scleroderma, generalized morphoea showed the highes t incidence of anti-hsp73 antibodies (40%, 6/15). IgG and/or IgM anti- hsp73 antibodies were also detected in 9/30 samples (30%) from patient s with SLE and in 13/32 samples (41%) from patients with systemic scle rosis, while the samples from the healthy controls were all negative f or anti-hsp73. By immunoblotting, specific binding of antibodies to hs p73 was confirmed with representative serum samples that were positive for anti-hsp73 in the ELISA, Our findings indicate that the presence of anti-hsp73 is an additional immunological abnormality in localized scleroderma.