A DNA-Reacting Factor in Serum of a Patient with Lupus Erythematosus Diffusus. ∗

Abstract

Conclusions

While further investigations are in progress, the following conclusions may be provisionally drawn: 1) in serum of a patient with acute Lupus Erythematosus diffusus a factor has been found specifically reacting with purified DNA; 2) this factor does not discriminate between DNAs from different sources and species; 3) under usual criteria it seems to behave like an antibody; 4) the positive reaction of this peculiar serum against a treponemic extract appears to be due to the presence of desoxypentose nucleic acids in the extract. 5) It has not been possible to test whether the serum of this patient, which gave a strongly positive L. E. phenomenon, would retain this ability after absorption with DNA; hence it is impossible now to decide how closely this factor is related to the Hargrave Haserick's globulin. Because no reactivity against DNA was demonstrated in 8 other patients with a positive L.E. phenomenon, the DNA reacting factor of this peculiar serum might be regarded as an occasional expression of the disease, related to the wellknown auto-immune hyperreactivity of the L.E. patients. If the factor is demonstrated not to be an antibody the alternative explanation could be of a material of nuclear origin still able to form a complex with DNA.