Polynucleotide specificity of anti-reactive oxygen species (ROS) DNA antibodies

Abstract

SUMMARY Hydrogen peroxide in the presence of short wavelength UV light was able to induce alterations in native DNA fragments of 300 bp (ROS-DNA). thereby rendering it immunogenic in experimental animals. The specificity of induced antibodies was investigated by direct binding and competition ELISA. Inhibition studies revealed nearly 89% inhibition in the antibody binding by the immunogen and recognition of native B-, A- and allied conformations presented by various synthetic polynucleotides. Gel retardation assay reiterated the formation of immune complexes between induced antibodies and native and ROS-DNA fragments. It was observed that naturally occurring anti-DNA autoantibodies from systemic lupus erythemalosus(SLE) sera recognize ROS-DNA. The comparison of the specificities of anti-DNA auloantibodies from 10 SLE patients showed a 20–50-fold preference for ROS-DNA over native DNA. These results demonstrate that anti-DNA antibodies can be induced by ROS-DNA, and that some of the autoimmune DNA binding antibodies found in SLE may result from response to reactive oxygen species.