Antibody to the mitotic spindle apparatus: immunologic characteristics and cytologic studies.

A naturally occurring autoantibody directed at the mitotic spindle polar apparatus (MSA) was detected in sera from 18 patients with defined or evolving connective tissue diseases by routine indirect immunofluorescence on a tissue culture cell. This IgG antibody stained the mitotic spindle poles of dividing tissue culture and tissue section substrates, with staining most prominent on substrates of human origin. With some sera, and cell lines, interphase cells showed isolated nuclear staining. Cytoplasmic staining was not apparent in any sera on any substrate. This specificity was shown to be distinct from tubulin by double fluorescence labeling studies. Patient sera exhibiting only this specificity did not precipitate antigens in rabbit or calf thymus nuclear extracts. However, several patients with systemic lupus erythematosus exhibited anti-MSA in combination with other autoantibodies. This autoantibody may be a useful probe for spindle pole-related structures.