Characterization and clinical significance of the Smith antigen / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies against a wide spectrum of nuclear, cytoplasmic,and cell membrane autoantigens.Among them,the anti-Smith antibodies are specific for SLE and thus have been included as a criteria for diagnosis.They are not only a diagnostic marker but also a reliable measure of disease activity in SLE,we intend to describe the biological functions and clinical significance of the Smith antigen and the detection of anti-Smith antibodies.