Frequency of autoantibodies to a major epitope on the carboxyl terminal fragment of CENP-B in patients with autoimmune disease

Br J Rheumatol. 1995 May;34(5):407-12. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/34.5.407.

Abstract

The carboxyl-terminal fragment of CENP-B contains a major epitope for anti-centromere antibodies (ACA). We have developed an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) for measuring antibodies to the 147-carboxyl-terminal amino acids of CENP-B expressed as a beta-galactosidase fusion protein. The ELISA was 98% sensitive and 95% specific for detecting ACA in a population which included 46 patients with ACA detected by other means. Therefore, the CENP-B ELISA should prove a valuable tool in screening for ACA in populations at risk of developing systemic sclerosis, such as those with Raynaud's phenomenon. Levels of anti-CENP-B antibodies were not increased in unaffected relatives of probands with ACA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoantigens*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
  • Centromere / immunology*
  • Centromere Protein B
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / immunology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / immunology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / immunology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • CENPB protein, human
  • Centromere Protein B
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Immunodominant Epitopes
  • Peptide Fragments