Evaluation of various antigenic substrates for the detection of antinuclear antibodies

The present study deals with the evaluation of some substrates for the detection of nuclear antibodies by the indirect immunofluorescence method. We have examined white male mouse liver imprint, white female pregnant mouse liver imprint, compound substrate consisting of male mouse liver, kidney and gastric wall sections, skin sections from psoriatic patients, skin sections from squamous cell carcinomata, male rabbit spleen imprint, skin sections from healthy adults people, skin sections from basal cell epitheliomata, skin sections from patients with lichen planus, male mouse spleen imprint and male guinea pig spleen imprint. To evaluate the substrates, we have employed 4 selected sera from patients with collagen disease. It was observed that some types of antinuclear antibodies demonstrate greater affinity for certain substrates and the fluorescent nuclear pattern might change on serial dilutions. From all the substrates studied, the white male mouse liver imprint and the male rabbit spleen imprint were considered as the most efficient for routine purpose as they are both sensitive and easily obtainable.