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Identification of retroviral DNA sequences in serum of cutaneous forms of lupus erythematosus patients

European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 13, Number 4, 354-8, July 2003, Investigative report

Summary

Author(s) : Janusz PROKOP, Pawel P. JAGODZINSKI , Department of Dermatology. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Medical Sciences, 6 Świecickiego St., 60-781 Poznań, Poland .

Summary : Discoid (DLE), discoid disseminated (DDLE) and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) are recognised as cutaneous forms of lupus erythematosus (LE). It has been suggested that expression of endogenous retroviral components might induce the biosynthesis of anti-DNA antibodies in LE patients. Using the dot blot hybridisation, we detected the greatest correlation between biosynthesis of anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), anti-single stranded DNA (anti-ssDNA) antibodies and the presence of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) pol sequences in DNA isolated from serum of SCLE (n \= 22) patients. The same studies conducted in the groups of DLE (n \= 85) and DDLE (n \= 51) patients, exhibited a lower correlation between production of anti-dsDNA, anti-ssDNA and the presence of homologous HIV-1 pol sequences than in SCLE patients. Our findings suggest that the presence of endogenous retroviral sequences in patient serum may exhibit a relationship with development of cutaneous forms of LE disease.

Keywords : anti-nuclear antibodies, endogenous retroviruses, lupus erythematosus.

Pictures

Figure 1. Representative picture of dot blot hybridisation.
The DNA samples were isolated from serum of DLE, DDLE, SCLE patients and a control group including HIV-1 infected (1) and healthy (2) individuals. –, + represent the negative or positive result of dot blot hybridisation, respectively.