Comparative evaluation of anti-heat shock protein antibodies in SLE and healthy controls

Presence of anti-heat shock protein (anti-hsp) antibodies have earlier been demonstrated in children as well as adult patients with systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE). Since hsp share homology across several species, it is presumed that anti-E. coli antibodies could in fact be autoantibodies. Surface expression of hsps has also been shown to play a role in the generation of antibodies. In the present study antibodies to a recombinant hsp70 of Leishmania dnonvani origin have been investigated in patients with SLE and data compared with the incidence in control sera. One clone from the cDNA library of Leishmania donovani confirmed previously to be expressing hsp70, cloned in pBluescript and antibodies to the expressed protein were checked by ELISA and western blot assays. The results indicate the presence of anti-hsp70 antibodies in 22/26 (85%) SLE patients and 12/20 (60%) control sera. Our observations reconfirm the presence of antibodies to hsp in normal controls and therefore they may not bear any direct relation to the pathogenesis of SLE.