Antibodies against DNA are distinguished into two different types: antibodies against double stranded, native DNA (dsDNA) and antibodies against single-stranded, denatured DNA. The dsDNA-speicific antibodies (anti-dsDNA) are considered a specific marker for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), due to the high clinical associations [1-3]. The presence of these autoantibodies could be virtually diagnostic for SLE [1, 3]. In fact, anti-dsDNA antibodies may be present in patients even before they develop clinical features of SLE [2, 4]. Therefore, monitoring the condition of anti-dsDNA antibodies is essential for maintaining the healthy condition as well as identifying the progression of SLE. Moreover, the identification of anti-dsDNA antibodies in other pathological conditions and in healthy subjects is very rare (less than 0.5%) [3].
References:
- D. A. Isenberg, J. J. Manson, M. R. Ehrenstein, and A. Rahman, “Fifty years of anti-ds DNA antibodies: are we approaching journey’s end?” Rheumatology, vol. 46, no. 7, pp. 1052–1056, 2007.
- D. A. Isenberg, J. J. Manson, M. R. Ehrenstein, A. Rahman, Fifty years of anti-ds DNA antibodies: are we approaching journey’s end?, Rheumatology, Volume 46, Issue 7, July 2007, Pages 1052–10563.
- G. C. Tsokos, “Systemic lupus erythematosus,” The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 365, no. 22, pp. 2110–2121, 2011.
- E. Cozzani, M. Drosera, G. Gasparini, and A. Parodi, “Serology of lupus erythematosus: correlation between immunopathological features and clinical aspects,” Autoimmune Diseases, vol. 2014, Article ID 321359, 13 pages, 2014.
- M. R. Arbuckle, M. T. McClain, M. V. Rubertone et al., “Development of autoantibodies before the clinical onset of systemic lupus erythematosus,” The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 349, no. 16, pp. 1526–1533, 2003.
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