Antinuclear antibody detection by automated multiplex immunoassay in untreated patients at the time of diagnosis.

Fully automated multiplex immunoassays are increasingly used as first line screening for antinuclear antibodies. The diagnostic performance of such multiplex assays in untreated patients at the time of diagnosis has not been reported. Antinuclear antibodies were measured by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) (dilution 1:160) and by BioPlex 2200 ANA screen (antibodies to dsDNA, chromatin, ribosomal protein, SSA-52, SSA-60, SSB, Sm, SmRNP, RNP-A, RNP-68, Scl-70, Jo-1, and centromere B) in 236 patients with a systemic rheumatic disease at the time of diagnosis, 149 blood donors, 139 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and 134 diseased controls.

Betaine homocysteine methyl transferase 1, a novel auto-antigen associated with anti-Golgi immune reactivity.

Anti-Golgi antibodies are rare autoantibodies that have been described in systemic autoimmune diseases. Not all Golgi auto-antigens are known. The objective of this study was to identify a novel auto-antigen associated with anti-Golgi immune reactivity.

Heterogeneous nuclear RNPs as targets of autoantibodies in systemic rheumatic diseases.

Objective: To investigate the abundance of autoantibodies to heterogeneous nuclear RNPs (hnRNPs) in systemic rheumatic diseases.

Methods: Recombinant human hnRNPs A1, B1, C1, E1, F, Gi, H1, I, K, and P2 were prepared. Antibodies to these antigens were determined by Western blotting and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (for hnRNPs B1, E1, F, and H1) in serum samples obtained from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (control subjects) and from patients with various connective tissue diseases.

Detection of antinuclear antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence and by solid phase assay.

Testing for antinuclear antibodies is useful for the diagnosis of systemic rheumatic diseases. Solid phase assays are increasingly replacing indirect immunofluorescence for detection of antinuclear antibodies. In the most recent generation of solid phase assays, manufacturers attempt to improve the performance of the assays by adding extra antigens.

Identification of a novel autoantigen in inflammatory bowel disease by protein microarray.

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) display immunoreactivity to self-antigens and microbial antigens. We used a protein microarray approach to identify novel autoantigens in IBD.

Methods: ProtoArray Human Protein Microarray v4.

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein h1, a novel nuclear autoantigen.

Background: Serum samples from patients with autoimmune connective tissue diseases that show a finely speckled antinuclear antibody (ANA) on indirect immune-fluorescence often have antibodies against unknown nuclear target antigens. To search for such autoantigens we applied a proteomic approach using sera from patients with a high ANA titer (>or=640) and finely speckled fluorescence but in whom no antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) could be identified.

Methods: Using an immunoproteomics approach we identified heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (hnRNP H1) as a novel nuclear target of autoantibody response.