Crosslinking and gelation between linear polymers: DNA-antibody complexes in systemic lupus erythematosus

In the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus the DNA molecules of an individual are attacked by its own antibodies. As these antibodies are bivalent they can crosslink different DNA molecules which can lead to the formation of DNA-antibody complexes and gels. Statistical properties of these complexes are derived and evaluated analytically in the limit of very long DNA molecules, as well as the concentrations at which a gel is being formed. The authors also present various numerical results for DNA molecules of intermediate lengths. This work can also be considered as a theory of the crosslinking and gelation of linear polymers