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Antinuclear antibodies: Contemporary techniques and clinical application to connective tissue diseases
Immunology Today, vol. 6, No. 2, 1985
Immunoregulatory Processes in Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Sclerosis edited by Arthur A. Vandenbark andJ~f C. M. Raus, Elsevier, 1984. $75. O0/Dfl195. O0 (x + 273 pages) I S B N 0 444 80570 2 The editors of this small book have compiled a series of seven lectures on MS and EAE expanded into a quite useful text on what is known to date on immunoregulatory aspects of these two conditions. It is easy to read with excellent diagrams, tables and electron micrographs, and as such constitutes a contemporary reference book of value. Each chapter concludes with an edited version 0fa discussion which ensued at the end of the live lecture; these add greatly to the dimension of the book by including contrasting views of the matter at hand. The chapters themselves are well organized, usually introducing the topics with a historical precis or overview leading into a descriptive section on the
Antinuclear Antibodies: Contemporary Techniques and Clinical Application to Connective Tissue Diseases by GaleA. McCarty, Donald l/K Valencia and Marvin J. Fritzler, Oxford University Press, 1984. £25. O0 (viii + 95 pages) I S B N 0 195 03433 3 This book describes the clinical significance of antinuclear antibodies and technical aspects of their detection. It is aimed at students, clinicians and those who would set up a laboratory. The book is really divided into two parts: the first and second chapters discuss clinical correlations of antinuclear antibodies and their classification; chapters three to fivediscuss laboratory approaches to the characterization of antinuclear antibodies. The first chapter is an eminently
Essentials of Immunology by W. H. Hildemann, Elsevier, 1984. Dfl60. O0 (xff + 146 pages) I S B N 0 444 00805 5 Essential Of Immunology grew out of an expanded version of a syllabus prepared for second year medical students and graduate students at UCLA. The outline format used by the author results in a highly condensed representation of the major immunologic principles. Because of the brevity with which each topic is
63 author's research, ending with the most up-to-date findings and summaries of our current knowledge. Topics included are T-cell-endothelial cell interactions, EAE pathogenesis and prevention, a section on immunopathology of MS and EAE lesions, immunoregulatory T-cell subsets and immunogenetics and CSF studies in man. The chapters on T-endothelial ceil interactions and T-cell subsets read like basic immunology review courses and as such were unnecessary or at least not as relevant to the general content of the book. The sections in those chapters dealing with MS and EAE plus the excellent post lecture discussions might have been a better basis for more relevant chapters. Hinrich' s chapter provides a neat, clear historical outline of EAE. Irun Cohen's superb chapter on T-ceil contribution to disease in EAE and on his own pioneering work on T-cell clones in disease is a highlight of this book. He draws very effective parallels among the autoimmune diseases EAE, experimental autoimmune thyroiditis, and adjuvant arthritis. Philip Paterson challenges the conventional
wisdom about the sole role of T cells in EAE and accepted premise that neural antigens must be altered and released from sequestered sites to be contributors to the disease process in MS and EAE. His ideas are well documented and add a refreshing alternative to sometimes dogmatic views on these matters. Raine and Traugott's chapter reads like a good detective story. While it constitutes almost a quarter of the entire book it is filled with excellent figures and photomicrographs. As with any good story I read straight to the end without putting the book down. They reiterate the potential for B-ceil involvement (see Paterson) as well as the complexity of the immune response in MS and EAE. The discussion on remyelination is excellent. Both clinical investigators and academic researchers in MS and related fields will surely find this book a useful addition to their library. JEAN E. MERRILL
Multiple SclerosisResearch Clinic, Reed NeurologicalReseareh Center, LosAngeles, CA 90024, USA.
readable and quite thorough summary of the association of rheumatic diseases with antinuclear antibodies. The second chapter is a classification of antinuelear antibodies and is, on the whole, up to date. It does not address the etiology of these autoantibodies or discuss current theories of the regulation of their production. The portion of the book on laboratory techniques is somewhat less effective. The immunofluorescent technique for antinuelear antibodies is described in detail and its dependence on the substrate used is stressed. The technique of counter-immunoelectrophoresis is also well described. However other techniques used for the detection and quantitation of antinuclear antibodies are not even alluded to. For example, no mention is made of immunodiffusion or newer approaches like radioimmunoassays or ELISAs for detection of specific
antinuclear antibodies, or of the usefulness of Western blots of agarose gels for characterizing antibodies to small nuclear ribonucleo-protein antigens. Those who are interested in understanding the role of these antinuclear antibodies in disease, or current theories of their production, will want a more comprehensive volume. Likewise those who want to set up assays for these antinuclear antibodies will need more information and an introduction to some newer techniques. However this book can serve as a worthwhile review of antinuclear antibodies for medical students and non-rheumatologists and has a very useful bibliography for others.
presented, the book avoids the use of lengthy narrative definitions and instead, uses an illustrative approach to teach concepts and reaction sequences and pathways. This book provides a clear example of effective use of illustrations to concisely outline the framework of a subject for introductory-level students. The abundant illustrations are, perhaps, useful for students who are enrolled in an introductory immunology course and have access to a more exhaustive text. The book may also be useful for
students reviewing immunology in preparation for National Board Exams. In this respect, an appendix containing study questions is included to facilitate a self-evaluation of the reader's understanding of immunology. However, the book does not include a glossary - an important component of all teaching manuals. The book begins with a chapter which describes the scope and components of immunology. This is an appropriate section because it introduces the reader
BETTY DIAMOND
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY10461, USA.
Immunoregulatory Processes in Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Sclerosis edited by Arthur A. Vandenbark andJ~f C. M. Raus, Elsevier, 1984. $75. O0/Dfl195. O0 (x + 273 pages) I S B N 0 444 80570 2 The editors of this small book have compiled a series of seven lectures on MS and EAE expanded into a quite useful text on what is known to date on immunoregulatory aspects of these two conditions. It is easy to read with excellent diagrams, tables and electron micrographs, and as such constitutes a contemporary reference book of value. Each chapter concludes with an edited version 0fa discussion which ensued at the end of the live lecture; these add greatly to the dimension of the book by including contrasting views of the matter at hand. The chapters themselves are well organized, usually introducing the topics with a historical precis or overview leading into a descriptive section on the
Antinuclear Antibodies: Contemporary Techniques and Clinical Application to Connective Tissue Diseases by GaleA. McCarty, Donald l/K Valencia and Marvin J. Fritzler, Oxford University Press, 1984. £25. O0 (viii + 95 pages) I S B N 0 195 03433 3 This book describes the clinical significance of antinuclear antibodies and technical aspects of their detection. It is aimed at students, clinicians and those who would set up a laboratory. The book is really divided into two parts: the first and second chapters discuss clinical correlations of antinuclear antibodies and their classification; chapters three to fivediscuss laboratory approaches to the characterization of antinuclear antibodies. The first chapter is an eminently
Essentials of Immunology by W. H. Hildemann, Elsevier, 1984. Dfl60. O0 (xff + 146 pages) I S B N 0 444 00805 5 Essential Of Immunology grew out of an expanded version of a syllabus prepared for second year medical students and graduate students at UCLA. The outline format used by the author results in a highly condensed representation of the major immunologic principles. Because of the brevity with which each topic is
63 author's research, ending with the most up-to-date findings and summaries of our current knowledge. Topics included are T-cell-endothelial cell interactions, EAE pathogenesis and prevention, a section on immunopathology of MS and EAE lesions, immunoregulatory T-cell subsets and immunogenetics and CSF studies in man. The chapters on T-endothelial ceil interactions and T-cell subsets read like basic immunology review courses and as such were unnecessary or at least not as relevant to the general content of the book. The sections in those chapters dealing with MS and EAE plus the excellent post lecture discussions might have been a better basis for more relevant chapters. Hinrich' s chapter provides a neat, clear historical outline of EAE. Irun Cohen's superb chapter on T-ceil contribution to disease in EAE and on his own pioneering work on T-cell clones in disease is a highlight of this book. He draws very effective parallels among the autoimmune diseases EAE, experimental autoimmune thyroiditis, and adjuvant arthritis. Philip Paterson challenges the conventional
wisdom about the sole role of T cells in EAE and accepted premise that neural antigens must be altered and released from sequestered sites to be contributors to the disease process in MS and EAE. His ideas are well documented and add a refreshing alternative to sometimes dogmatic views on these matters. Raine and Traugott's chapter reads like a good detective story. While it constitutes almost a quarter of the entire book it is filled with excellent figures and photomicrographs. As with any good story I read straight to the end without putting the book down. They reiterate the potential for B-ceil involvement (see Paterson) as well as the complexity of the immune response in MS and EAE. The discussion on remyelination is excellent. Both clinical investigators and academic researchers in MS and related fields will surely find this book a useful addition to their library. JEAN E. MERRILL
Multiple SclerosisResearch Clinic, Reed NeurologicalReseareh Center, LosAngeles, CA 90024, USA.
readable and quite thorough summary of the association of rheumatic diseases with antinuclear antibodies. The second chapter is a classification of antinuelear antibodies and is, on the whole, up to date. It does not address the etiology of these autoantibodies or discuss current theories of the regulation of their production. The portion of the book on laboratory techniques is somewhat less effective. The immunofluorescent technique for antinuelear antibodies is described in detail and its dependence on the substrate used is stressed. The technique of counter-immunoelectrophoresis is also well described. However other techniques used for the detection and quantitation of antinuclear antibodies are not even alluded to. For example, no mention is made of immunodiffusion or newer approaches like radioimmunoassays or ELISAs for detection of specific
antinuclear antibodies, or of the usefulness of Western blots of agarose gels for characterizing antibodies to small nuclear ribonucleo-protein antigens. Those who are interested in understanding the role of these antinuclear antibodies in disease, or current theories of their production, will want a more comprehensive volume. Likewise those who want to set up assays for these antinuclear antibodies will need more information and an introduction to some newer techniques. However this book can serve as a worthwhile review of antinuclear antibodies for medical students and non-rheumatologists and has a very useful bibliography for others.
presented, the book avoids the use of lengthy narrative definitions and instead, uses an illustrative approach to teach concepts and reaction sequences and pathways. This book provides a clear example of effective use of illustrations to concisely outline the framework of a subject for introductory-level students. The abundant illustrations are, perhaps, useful for students who are enrolled in an introductory immunology course and have access to a more exhaustive text. The book may also be useful for
students reviewing immunology in preparation for National Board Exams. In this respect, an appendix containing study questions is included to facilitate a self-evaluation of the reader's understanding of immunology. However, the book does not include a glossary - an important component of all teaching manuals. The book begins with a chapter which describes the scope and components of immunology. This is an appropriate section because it introduces the reader
BETTY DIAMOND
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY10461, USA.