ANA - Anti Nucleus Antibodies

human, in particular nuclear (DNA, RNA, ribonucleoproteins, histones, centromere, etc.). They are therefore autoantibodies, ie immunoglobulins directed against healthy and normal components of the organism, erroneously interpreted as dangerous (antigens), therefore considered worthy of an immune attack.
Antinuclear antibodies are of considerable importance in the medical field, since - even if they are present in small quantities in many healthy individuals - they tend to increase significantly in the blood of subjects affected by systemic autoimmune diseases (CORN).

For example, virtually all patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or mixed connective tissue disease test positive for ANA.
There are several cellular components towards which the attack of antinuclear antibodies is recorded.
The term antinuclear is related to the fact that the first antibodies discovered were directed against nuclear antigens. Today, anti-nucleus antibody is an obsolete terminology, since several autoantigens-targets, clinically important in some systemic autoimmune diseases, are also localized in the cytoplasm (therefore outside the nucleus).
As anticipated, there are different types of anti-nucleus antibodies, classified according to the self-antigens towards which they are directed. Each of these antibodies has particular specificities for some autoimmune pathologies; this means that the raising of his blood values ​​is a warning that signals the possible presence of a very specific disease.

, which, due to an "altered activity, is no longer able to recognize the" self "(parts of the" organism they belong to) from the "non self" (substances foreign to the body). These autoantibodies mistakenly attack healthy cells in the body, causing signs and symptoms such as: inflammation of organs and tissues, fatigue and joint and muscle pain. Specifically, ANAs recognize certain substances found in the cell nucleus, hence the name “Anti-nucleus.” This results in damage to organs and tissues.
The presence of ANA can be considered a marker of an autoimmune process and allows to rule out other conditions with similar signs and symptoms. The disease in which they are most frequently found is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

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Anti-ds DNA (anti double-stranded DNA), anti-centromere (region by which two chromosomes are linked together) and / or anti-histone (proteins that allow DNA packaging) antibodies assay;

Evaluation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and / or C-reactive protein (PCR).

Note
The ANA test is not used to follow or monitor the clinical course of SLE, so this test is not usually required serially.