Uracil-specific anti-R.N.A. antibodies in scleroderma

Abstract

Antibodies to single-stranded R.N.A. were found by counter immunoelectrophoresis in all of 40 sera from patients with scleroderma. These antibodies were specific to the uracil bases of R.N.A. Antibodies to R.N.A. were also found in 20 of 40 sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (S.L.E.), but in none of forty controls. Antibodies to R.N.A. found in S.L.E. sera could be differentiated immunochemically from those found in scleroderma in that they were more heterogeneous and could react selectively with either uridine or uridine monophosphate. Antibodies ot D.N.A. were more frequent in S.L.E. than in scleroderma. That antibodies to D.N.A. are actually present in scleroderma and precipitin lines are not the result of cross reactivity with anti-R.N.A. antibodies is indicated by the finding that 10 of the 18 scleroderma sera which reacted with D.N.A. also reacted with thymidine, a base present in D.N.A. but not in R.N.A.