Hydralazine induces Z-DNA conformation in a polynucleotide and elicits anti(Z-DNA) antibodies in treated patients.

We studied the effect of hydralazine, an antihypertensive drug with lupus-inducing side effects, on the conformation of poly(dG-m5dC).poly(dG-m5dC) and a plasmid with a 23 bp insert of (dG-dC)n.(dG-dC)n sequences. Using an e.l.i.s.a. with a monoclonal anti-(Z-DNA) antibody Z22, we found that hydralazine provoked the Z-DNA conformation in poly(dG-m5dC).poly(dG-m5dC) at 250-500 microM concentration. The supercoiled form of hydralazine-treated plasmid bound to Z22 in a gel-retardation assay. To examine further whether Z-DNA could act as an inciting agent in anti-nuclear antibody production in patients, we analysed 65 sera from 25 hypertensive patients taking hydralazine and found anti-(Z-DNA) antibodies in 82% of these sera. Sera from age-matched normal controls showed no binding to Z-DNA. Data on sera drawn sequentially from four hypertensive patients showed that antibodies were present after the drug treatment. These data demonstrate the presence of a high incidence of anti-(Z-DNA) antibodies in patients treated with hydralazine and suggest that a possible mechanism for the production of autoantibodies in drug-related lupus might involve the induction and stabilization of Z-DNA by drugs.