Showing papers by "Eng M. Tan published in 1979"
TL;DR: By physicochemical and enzymatic studies, the antigen was shown to have the properties of ribosomal ribonucleoprotein (gamma-RNP), and cytoplasmic staining in immunofluorescence was observed with all the 9 sera containing antibodies to gamma-R NP.
Abstract: Precipitating antibody to an antigen present in cytoplasm was detected in the sera of 7 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 1 patient with an overlap syndrome of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, and 1 patient with mixed connective tissue disease. By physicochemical and enzymatic studies, the antigen was shown to have the properties of ribosomal ribonucleoprotein (r-RNP). Cytoplasmic staining in immunofluorescence was observed with all the 9 sera containing antibodies to r-RNP. In certain cases, cytoplasmic staining was associated with nucleolar staining. Antibody to r-RNP is different in immunologic specificity and clinical significance from antibody to nuclear RNP and is present primarily in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
53 citations
TL;DR: The intensity of the complement and histamine changes observed seemed to be correlated to the severity of the disease, with evidence for alternative pathway activation or the presence of an activator of the alternative pathway.
Abstract: Fifteen patients with atopic dermatitis were investigated to evaluate the total of complement and histamine. In five patients total serum complement haemolytic activity (CH50) was significantly decreased as was the haemolytic activity of complement components C2 (C2H50) and C3 (C3H50). By counter immunoelectrophoresis split products of C3 were detected. There was no evidence for alternative pathway activation or the presence of an activator of the alternative pathway. In three patients plasma histamine concentrations were elevated. The intensity of the complement and histamine changes observed seemed to be correlated to the severity of the disease.
39 citations
TL;DR: The sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis form a precipitate with an antigen present in the sonicate of a human B (bone marrow-derived) lymphoid cell line (WiL2).
Abstract: The sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis form a precipitate with an antigen present in the sonicate of a human B (bone marrow-derived) lymphoid cell line (WiL2). The antibody is distinct from rheumatoid factor. The antigen can be demonstrated by an immunofluorescence technique to be distributed within the nucleus of the WiL2 cell and shows a discrete speckled pattern of nuclear staining. The nuclear antigen is not detectable in organ extracts from many animal species or in human T (thymus-derived) lymphoid cell lines. The current evidence suggests that the nuclear antigen is detectable only in human B lymphoid cells infected with Epstein-Barr virus. It is not clear at present whether the nuclear antigen is a viral protein or a cell protein induced by the EpsteinBarr virus as a result of polyclonal B cell activation. For many years, our laboratory has been engaged in the study of autoantibodies to intracellular antigens. These autoantibodies are present in the sera of patients with systemic rheumatic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, and mixed connective tissue disease. In the course of these studies, we have demonstrated that anti
7 citations