S. Sato et al., Clinical significance of antinuclear matrix antibody in serum from patients with anti-U1RNP antibody, ARCH DERM R, 292(2-3), 2000, pp. 55-59
Serum containing anti-U1RNP antibodies reacts with the nuclear matrix, the
relatively insoluble component of the cell nucleus, in addition to U1RNP, I
n this study, we determine the serum titer and clinical correlations of ant
inuclear matrix antibodies in samples from patients with anti-U1RNP antibod
ies. The patients with anti-U1RNP antibodies were classified as having mixe
d connective tissue disease (MCTD, 15 patients), systemic sclerosis (SSc, 1
2 patients), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, 7 patients), and undifferen
tiated CTD (UCTD, 9 patients). Antinuclear matrix antibodies were detected
using indirect immunofluorescence staining on HCl-treated HEp-2 cells, The
antinuclear matrix antibody titer was significantly higher in serum from pa
tients with MCTD or SSc than in serum from patients with SLE or UCTD, The a
ntinuclear matrix antibody titer was significantly increased in serum from
patients with sclerodactyly, pitting scars, contracture of the phalanges, a
nd decreased carbon monoxide diffusion capacity. Thus, a higher titer of an
tinuclear matrix antibodies in serum from patients with anti-U1RNP antibodi
es may be associated with a clinical diagnosis of MCTD or SSc rather than a
diagnosis of SLE or UCTD.