No abstract

The histone H2A-H2B dimer is a component of nucleosomes in chromatin and a frequent target of autoantibodies in spontaneous and drug-induced lupus. We obtained a panel of several lgG mAbs reacting with H2A-H2B or DNA from MRL mice which develop a spontaneous lupus-like syndrome. Several of these antibodies do not react with individual histones, but bind strongly to the H2A-H2B dimer and some bind even more strongly to the H2A-H2B-DNA complex. Moreover, these antibodies not only bind to H2A-H2B dimers in the absence of DNA, but also exhibit significant binding to DNA in the absence of histones, indicating an overlap between the anti-histone and anti-DNA specificities. The analysis of the variable region gene sequences of these antibodies shows a recurrent usage of similar VH genes, suggesting a dominant role for the heavy chain in determining binding specificity. The heavy chain third complementarity determining regions of these antibodies are also remarkable for their frequency of D-D fusions and of D segments read in unusual reading frames and for many arginine residues that may contribute to DNA binding. In addition, several antibodies obtained from an individual mouse are clonally related and some differ through somatic mutations, indicating that autoreactive clones are positively selected by nuclear antigens.

We have tested the ability of chrysotile asbestos fibers to introduce plasmid DNA into monkey COS-7 cells and the ability of this DNA to function in both replication and gene expression. Chrysotile fibers are at least as effective as calcium phosphate in standard transfection assays at optimal ratios of asbestos to DNA. After transfection with chrysotile, a minor percentage of introduced plasmid DNA bearing a simian virus 40 origin of replication replicates after 24 hr. Fragmentation of entering DNA is more prominent with asbestos than with calcium phosphate, and after 72 hr most DNA introduced by asbestos is associated with chromosomal DNA. Cells transfected with plasmid p114, bearing the p53 protooncogene, express this gene. Cells transfected with pSV2-neo express a gene conferring resistance ofantibiotic G418, allowing isolation of colonies of transformed cells after 18 days. The introduction of exogenous DNA into eukaryotic cells could cause mutations in several ways and thus contribute to asbestos-induced oncogenesis.

Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is rarely seen in children. We report a case of LyP in a 4-year-old boy in whom immunopathologic studies demonstrated T cell antigen deletions. In contrast to all but two previous reports, a T suppressor (CD-8) phenotype was predominant. Southern blot analysis of DNA isolated from a typical skin lesion indicated a clonal rearrangement of the T cell receptor beta gene. Because of a 10% frequency of malignant lymphomas in patients with LyP, long-term observation is crucial, especially in children. We recommend routine clonal rearrangement studies for aid in diagnosis and follow-up, and as possible prognostic indicators in children with this condition.