Clinical Relevance of Antibodies to Ro/SS-A and La/SS-B in Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus and Related Conditions

Abstract

Ro/SS-A autoantibodies are frequently associated with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, neonatal lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome. The Ro/SS-A autoantigen is a ribonucleoprotein complex consisting of at least four protein components and four small cytoplasmic RNA components designated hY RNA 1, 3, 4 and 5. Three of the Ro/SS-A peptides have been isolated and cloned. The function of this ribonucleoprotein complex is as yet unknown.