Detection of antibodies to histones in human systemic lupus erythematosus and in murine lupus-like syndromes using micro-ELISA.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent microassay (micro-ELISA) was improved for the detection of anti-histone antibodies. Detection of these antibodies in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic sclerodermitis sclerosis (SCL), showed a positive correlation between the presence of antinuclear antibodies detected by indirect immunofluorescence and the level of anti-histone antibodies (p less than or equal to 0.02) having anti-H1 (p less than or equal to 0.001) and anti-H2B (p less than or equal to 0.01) specificities. These antibodies were more frequently detected, and at a higher level, in human SLE than in RA and SCL. Anti-H1 and anti-H2B (and less frequently anti-H3) antibodies were also found in mice with lupus-like syndrome (MRL/1, PN and Swan). Their level rose with age and they were prevalent in the severe forms, especially in MRL/1 and PN.