THE REACTION OF THE LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (L.E.) CELL FACTOR WITH DEOXYRIBONUCLEOPROTEIN OF THE CELL NUCLEUS

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The lupus erythematosus (L. E.) cell factor reacts with deoxyribonucleoprotein of the cell nucleus and requires both deoxyribonucleic acid and histone for the reaction. This reaction appears to be the primary step in formation of the L. E. cell. The L. E. cell factor can be isolated from its complex with nucleoprotein by digestion of the complex with deoxyribonuclease followed by elution from the residue. The L. E. cell factor possesses the immunological and physical properties of typical human antibody gamma-globulin. The reaction of nucleoprotein with L. E. cell factor can be inhibited by prior exposure of the nucleoprotein to histone, protamine and atabrine. The mechanism of those inhibitions is not established. The properties of the L. E. cell factor and the specific requirement of deoxyribonucleoprotein for reaction suggest that the reaction is immunological, and that L. E. cell factor is one of a group of antibodies to constituents of the cell nucleus which arise in systemic lupus erythematosus.