Anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (Anti-dsDNA)

Sample

1. This test is done on the Serum of the patient.
2. The serum can be stored at -20 °C.
   • Take 3 to 5 ml of blood in the disposable syringe. Keep the syringe for 15 to 30 minutes, then centrifuge for 2 to 4 minutes. In this way, you can get a clear serum.
3. Also, these anti – DNA antibodies can be detected by biopsy, e.g., of kidney or skin.

Purpose of the test (Indications) for Anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies

1. This is specific for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE ).
2. This test can be used for the follow-up of SLE cases.
3. It is indicated in the positive Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test.

Precautions for Anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies

1. Avoid drug hydralazine and procainamide, which increase the DNA level.
2. A radioactive scan in the last week may alter the result.

Pathophysiology of Anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (Anti-dsDNA Ab)

1. These antibodies are found in 60 to 80 % of patients with active SLE.
   1. Anti-dsDNA is more specific for diagnosing SLE (Systemic lupus erythematosus).
   2. Anti-dsDNA
2. These are a group of autoantibodies seen in autoimmune diseases.
3. These antibodies are produced against antigens in the nucleus like:
   1. Histones.
   2. Double and single-stranded DNA antigens.
   3. Ribonucleoproteins.

4. The anti-DNA antibody is a subtype of the Antinuclear antibody (ANA).
5. The most common is an antibody against the double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA, DSDNA)
   1. The second antibody is against the single-stranded DNA (ant-ssDNA, SSDNA) and is less sensitive and specific.
6. These antigen-antibody complexes cause damage to tissue by complement system activation.
   1. When a compliment is activated, that may cause local or systemic damage.

4. High titers of ant-DNA are characteristic of SLE.
   1. Low to intermediate levels are seen in other autoimmune diseases, chronic hepatitis, biliary cirrhosis, and infectious mononucleosis.
5. Anti-DNA titer decreases with successful therapy of the SLE.
   1. It increases if there is a recurrence of SLE.
   2. It is near normal in the case of dormant SLE.

Systemic lupus erythematosus has the following presentation:

1. These patients may have a low-grade fever.
2. This patient may have persistent fatigue and weakness.
3. There is muscle pain.
4. There may be an arthritis-like pain in one or more of the joints, except small joints.
5. There is skin sensitivity to light.
6. There are butterfly rashes on the nose and cheek.
7. There is weight loss.
8. There is hair loss.
9. There may be numbness and tingling in the hands or feet.
10. Multiple organ diseases involve the kidneys, heart, lung, blood vessels, and central nervous system.

Normal Anti-dsDNA antibodies:

Source 2

• Negative : < 70 IU/mL
• Borderline : 70-200 IU/mL
• Positive : > 200 IU /mL

Source 4

• Negative = <25 IU by ELIZA
• Borderline = 25 to 30 IU
• Positive = 31 to 200 IU
• Strongly positive = >200 IU

Significance:

1. Anti-DNA is helpful to diagnose and follow up on SLE.

DNA antibody in various diseases:

2. The level of this antibody correlates with disease activity and the presence of kidney disease (glomerulonephritis).
3. This test may be positive in chronic hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and infectious mononucleosis.
4. Few drugs may give a positive test like procainamide and hydralazine.

The pattern on biopsy material of Anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (Anti-dsDNA):

1. This test can be done by fluorescent microscopy and will see a different patterns in various diseases in tissue biopsy.
2. This ANA pattern is associated with only one autoantibody or specific disease. These patterns are:
   1. Rim or peripheral  pattern:
      1. This is seen at the nuclear border.
      2. This is thought to be produced against several nucleoproteins, including sNP, Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), and histones.
      3. A high titer of ANA (1:160 or greater) with the rim is strongly suggestive of SLE.
      4. If the ANA antibody titer is low, then it is not helpful to diagnose SLE.
   2. Solid or homogenous pattern:
      1. This is seen throughout the nucleus.
      2. This is the second most common ANA pattern.
      3. ANA can produce this pattern against dsDNA, ssDNA, sNP, and histones.
      4. This pattern is most frequently seen in SLE but not diagnostic.
      5. This may be seen in other rheumatoid-collagen diseases.
      6. The ANA titer is usually <1:160 in diseases except for SLE.
   3. Speckled pattern:
      1. There are small fluorescent dots throughout the nucleus.
      2. There is no involvement of the nucleoli.
      3. This is the most common ANA pattern.
      4. The ANAs are produced against acidic nuclear proteins ENA (Sm and RNP),  SS-A and SS-B, histones, and scleroderma-70 (Scl-70).
      5. It is seen in 25% of the SLE cases.
      6. ANA against Sm strongly suggests SLE, while ANA against RNP suggests mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD).
      7. ANA against SS-B suggests Sjogren’s disease, and ANA against Scl-70 suggests scleroderma.
   4. Nucleolar pattern:
      1. This is only seen in the nucleolus, and there are several irregular shapes and different sizes.
      2. This pattern is due to ANA against the nucleolar ribonucleic acid (RNA, 4-6s RNA).
      3. It is suggestive of scleroderma in 55% to 90% of the cases when the titer is high.
      4. The low titer is found in the SLE and other collagen diseases.

ANA pattern by the fluorescent method

Fluorescent staining in autoimmune diseases

Table of a pattern of immunofluorescence staining in various autoimmune diseases:

SLE nuclear pattern

Anti-double-stranded DNA antibody (anti-dsDNA) is more specific than simple anti-DNA antibodies.
Various cytoplasmic and nuclear protein positivity in SLE:

Increased Anti-DNA antibody level seen in:

1. Systemic lupus erythematosus.
2. Other autoimmune diseases.
3. Biliary Cirrhosis.
4. Chronic hepatitis.
5. Infectious mononucleosis.

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