A complex of intermediate filament protein-DNA: a target for autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus?

Autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus which cross-react with double stranded DNA and intermediate filament proteins are frequently reported. However, little is known about the origin and the target of these antibodies. In this paper, a polyspecific monoclonal antibody, XY12, produced by the immunization of genetically non-autoimmune mice with a DNA-protein complex is detailed. Its antigen binding patterns are very similar to the autoantibodies. The data suggest that these autoantibodies may be triggered by a circulating nucleoprotein.