Staining patterns of ANA on human epithelial [HEP-2] cell line versus mouse kidney [MK] substrate by indirect immunofluorescence

ABSTRACT

One hundred random serum samples referred to Ain Shams University Hospitals were subjected to ANA determination by indirect immunofluorescence on two different substrates Mouse Kidney [MK] and human epithelial [HEP-2] cell line. Results on the two substrates used showed good correlation as regards the positivity of the test. Concerning the patterns observed, only two of the negative samples on MK substrate proved to be positive [nucleolar] on HEP-2 cell line. Another sample showed speckled pattern on MK substrate and appeared as anticentromere on HEP-2 cell line. The results indicate that the use of more than one substrate for ANA determination by indirect immunofluorescence technique may help in the diagnosis of various connective tissue diseases particularly those reported as ANA negative SLE patients. Detection of the unique patterns as anticentromere and antinucleolar are only achieved by using the cell lines as substrates