Cross-reactions of anti-DNA antibodies and the central dogma of lupus nephritis.

DNA-anti-DNA immune complexes have been implicated in the path1ogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) despite the absence of convincing evidence for the presence of DNA antigen in patients' blood or tissues. Several cross-reactions of anti-DNA antibodies have been described in recentyears. Some of these reactions provide new insights into the mechanisms of tissue injury in SLE. Here Dan Eilat suggests that the target antigen for anti-DNA antibodies may be other than DNA.