Antigenic relatedness of small ribonucleoprotein particles.

We have examined the relationships among small ribonucleoprotein particles found in eucaryotic cells by an antigen depletion technique using autoimmune antibodies. We have confirmed that the (U1) ribonucleoprotein particle antigen is found on the same complex as the Sm antigen. We have also shown that the Ro antigen is found on the same complexes as the La antigen. However, both Sm and La antigens are also found on complexes that are never associated with (U1) ribonucleoprotein particle and Ro, respectively. Further, U1 containing complexes can exist that contain the Sm antigen but not the (U1) ribonucleoprotein particle antigen. In a similar manner, we find several La-Ro RNA containing complexes that carry the La antigen but do not always carry the Ro antigen. Sm and La antigen are quantitatively associated with their specific ribonucleoprotein complexes.

Coping characteristics of disabled and nondisabled young children.

The coping characteristics of a large sample of disabled and nondisabled children under three years old are assessed across three categories of behavioral patterns: sensorimotor organization, reactive behavior, and self-initiated behavior. The influence of family income, gender, age, and ethnicity are examined and the implications for early intervention discussed.

Clinical characteristics of patients with rheumatic disorders who possess antibodies against ribonucleoprotein particles.

IgG was purified from 91 serum samples obtained from patients with systemic rheumatic diseases and examined for the presence of antinuclear antibodies reactive with small ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. Antibody specificity was determined by autoradiographic detection of 32P labeled RNA which had been separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This RNA was extracted from immune complexes formed by adding purified IgG to a homogenate of 32P labeled HeLa cells. Anti-RNP antibodies were detected in 70% of these samples. Specific antibodies detected were anti-(U1)-RNP (35%), anti-Sm (30%), anti-Ro (24%), and anti-La (10%). Other antibodies (9%) were reactive with structures containing 5S and 5.8S RNA or 4S RNA. There was a significant relationship between the presence of anti-RNP antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (78%) as opposed to their presence in patients with non-SLE rheumatic disorders (45%). However, taken individually, anti-Ro was the only antibody whose presence in SLE patients (30%) was significantly greater than its presence in non-SLE patients (5%). Vasculitis was the only clinical manifestation found to correlate with the presence of a particular antibody, anti(U1)RNP. There is some suggestion of a racial distribution of antibody types.