[DNA-abzymes and their clinical significance in systemic lupus erythematosis]

To evaluate occurrence of DNA-abzymes with catalytic (DNA-hydrolysing) and cytotoxic properties in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for examination of clinical value of DNA-abzymes in diagnosis of autoimmune syndrome and apoptosis level in different variants of immunopathology.

The study group consisted of patients with verified SLE diagnosis (n = 120). They were compared to 72 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 82 patients with scleroderma systematica (SS), 60 patients with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), 88 patients with focal scleroderma (FS) and 198 autoimmune uveitis (AU) patients. 128 donors served control. Catalytic and cytotoxic activity of DNA-abzymes were determined by methods of molecular biology and enzymology. All the patients were examined for blood levels of IgG, IgM and IgA, anti-DNA, anti-Sm and other IgG-autoantibodies, CIC titers, phagocyting activity, content of main D-cell subpopulations. Key immunoregulatory indices were also estimated.

DNA-abzymes were detected more often in SLE and RA patients. In SLE, catalytic and cytotoxic activities of DNA-abzymes reached their maximum. There was a correlation with leading clinicoimmunological signs of SLE. The disease was most severe with apparent immunopathology in patients with maximal catalytic and cytotoxic activity of DNA-abzymes. With lowering cytotoxic activity of DNA-abzymes more patients demonstrate low SLE activity without severe organic lesions and alleviated symptoms of immunopathology.

An important role of DNA-abzymes in pathogenesis of SLE is shown. They are also valuable tools in diagnosis of various clinicoimmunological variants of the disease.