Anti-DNA and autoantibodies

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a prototypic autoimmune disease characteriz ed by antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), including pathogenic specificities to DNA. As shown by recent research, ANA production is a genetically determine d process in which self antigens drive B and T cells that have escaped the normal mechanisms of tolerance, Although antibodies can bind isolated prote in or nucleic acid species, the in vivo driving antigens likely exist as co mplexes that have been released from apoptotic cells. The clinical measurem ent of ANAs, although valuable in assessing diagnosis and prognosis, must n evertheless be interpreted with caution because ANAs, despite their disease associations, can occur in healthy individuals. (C) 2000 Lippincott Willia ms & Wilkins, Inc.