ENA (Extractable Nuclear Antigens) - ENA Screening or ENA Panel

Extractable Nuclear) - identifies a series of components of the cell nucleus that can interact with particular antibodies, triggering an immune response.

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More specifically, extractable nuclear antigens can be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma. When recognized and linked by specific autoantibodies implicated in these pathological conditions, ENAs assume a diagnostic value as very sensitive and / or specific markers.

There are about a hundred extractable nuclear antigens, but only six are commonly used in laboratory investigations (ENA screening, ENA panel): Ro, La, Sm, RNP, Scl-70 and Jo1.