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. 1977 Oct;33(4):535–541.

Antibodies to β2 microglobulin in the sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

B S Ooi, Yuet M Ooi, A I Pesce, V E Pollak
PMCID: PMC1445385  PMID: 72726

Abstract

The present study reports the detection of antibodies to β2 microglobulin in the sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Using a Farr-type ammonium sulphate precipitation assay, test sera were reacted with 125Iβ2 microglobulin, and immunoglobulins precipitated by 50% saturated ammonium sulphate. Increased β2 microglobulin binding activity (normal values: mean±2 sd = 35.5 ±7.8) was detected in 18 of 42 SLE sera. Anti-HLA sera did not reveal increased binding activity, suggesting that the antibody in SLE serum was directed toward free β2 microglobulin. Direct validation was done by reacting 125Iβ2 microglobulin with 4 SLE sera having increased 125Iβ2 microglobulin binding activity, and subjecting the reactants to sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. Two peaks were obtained, one corresponding to free β2 microglobulin, and the other to 7S material complexed to β2 microglobulin. Normal sera demonstrated only one peak corresponding to unbound β2 microglobulin. Assays of β2 microglobulin binding activity on protein fractions obtained by Sephadex G200 column chromatography also showed the presence of increased binding activity with 7S fractions. Using a double antibody assay, the 7S material reactive to β2 microglobulin was demonstrated to be IgG. It was also shown that sera with abnormal β2 microglobulin binding activity had higher titres of antinuclear antibody compared to those lacking such activity (t = 3.18; P<0.01), indicating the pathogenetic relationship of this antibody to increased disease activity. This antibody may be responsible for some of the abnormalities of cell-mediated function previously described in SLE patients.

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Selected References

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