Dépistage des anticorps dirigéscontre les antigènes nucléaires insolubles: Anti-nucléosome, anti-ADN natif et anti-histones

Among the numerous nuclear antigens able to become autoantigen targets in connective diseases, there is a population of insoluble antigens in physiological salt solution that include deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), nucleosome and histones. This paper describes the three autoantibodies, namely double stranded DNA autoantibodies, antinucleosome autoantibodies, antihistone autoantibodies and the advantages and inconveniences of the used methods to detect them. The double stranded DNA autoantibodies still are an excellent marker for systemic lupus erythematosus, whose diagnostic value should be nevertheless balanced by the sensibility of the used detection method. Their prognostic value for renal involvement and for clinical activity disease's survey are now agreed by all physicians. Due to their lack of specificity, the anti-histone autoantibodies have no clinical relevance, even for the drug induced lupus. Antinucleosme autoantibodies are sensitive and specific markers for systemic lupus erythematosus, but are also found in drug induced lupus and lupoid hepatitis. These antibodies are clinically correlated with renal involvement in patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.