Vázquez Talavera, José; Ramírez Sandoval, Roxana; Esparza Ibarra, Edgar León; Ávalos Díaz, Esperanza del Refugio; Herrera Esparza, Rafael
Resumen:
Cajal bodies (CB) are distinct sub-nuclear domains rich in small nuclear ribonucleoprotein
particles (snRNPs); they are involved in pre-mRNA processing. Lupus erythematosus (SLE) is
an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production against different nuclear
molecules, including those involved in pre-mRNA processing. The aim of the present investigation
is to assess the presence of anti-CB autoantibodies in a cohort of SLE sera.
Material/Methods: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were screened by indirect immunofluorescence in a batch of
190 sera from patients who met the ACR criteria for SLE classification; fine specificity was
determined by Western blot using HEp-2 cells or rat hepatocyte extracts purified by ion
exchange chromatography.
Results: Four sera had anti-Cajal body (CB) autoantibodies. Interestingly, all of these patients had
intermittent extensive oral and esophageal ulceration. The autoantibodies to CB were of the
IgG class, and by Western blot these sera had reactivity against an 80 kDa protein (coilin)
associated with Sm proteins.
Conclusions: Anti-CB autoantibodies constitute an uncommon specificity of SLE; therefore it seems that
anti-CB antibody specificity is associated with extensive mucous ulceration.