IgG subclasses in systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune rheumatic diseases

In this study the concentration of the different subclasses of IgG in sera from patients with a range of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) was detected by radial immunodiffusion. In the second part the IgG subclasses of autoantibodies that recognize single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), Ro, La, Sm and RNP in patients with ARD were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We studied 15 patients with lupus, 20 patients each with primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and 10 each with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), scleroderma and myositis. Twenty healthy controls were also measured. The serum concentration of IgG2 in ARD patients was generally reduced. In contrast, the concentrations of IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4 subclasses were normal or raised. A high degree of correspondence in the IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 responses to dsDNA and ssDNA in SLE was found. Notable differences in the IgG1 anti-Ro and ssDNA responses compared to the other subclasses were seen in 1 degree and 2 degrees SS. In addition, an unexpected high level of IgG4 antibodies to ssDNA in 1 degree SS (65%) and IgG4 antibodies to Sm/RNP in RA was observed.