EIAgen Sm

brief description

The detection of Anti-Nuclear Antibodies (ANA's) has long been an important tool in the diagnosis of systemic rheumatic diseases. The antigens used in their detection are purified by the saline extraction of human or animal nuclei, this has led to them being termed Extractable Nuclear Antigens (ENA's). The intracellular antigen Sm is a target for autoimmune response for many Sistemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients and is considered to be highly specific for this condition. Anti-Sm antibodies react with small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNP) particles containing at least 9 polypeptides. However immunoblotting studies have shown that small anti-Sm antibodies bind predominantly to SmB, Sm BI and SmD proteins. Studies have been shown that anti-Sm antibodies occur in 30-40% of patients with SLE but higher levels have been observed in non Caucasian patients. The Sm antigens are ribonuclear proteins and under Western Blot produce bands at approximately 25kD. Autoantibodies to ENA's vary depending on disease state.

intended use

The EIAgen Sm is an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method for the quantitative determination of specific IgG autoantibodies to SM in human serum. The results of the anti-SM assay can be used as an aid in the diagnosis of auto-immune diseases including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).