title: anti-DR antibodies inhibit in vitro production of human rheumatoid factor.
abstract: Anti-MHC class II antibodies have been shown to have a profound effect on the immune system and have been used successfully in the therapy of human and animal autoimmune diseases. In addition, naturally-occurring anti-DR antibodies have been observed in the sera of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Now, we demonstrate that several monoclonal anti-DR, but not anti-DQ antibodies specifically inhibit the production of rheumatoid factor (RF) in pokeweed-stimulated cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from RA patients. Moreover, partially-purified anti-DR antibodies from RA sera have similar inhibitory effects on in vitro RF synthesis. These results indicate the inhibition of autoantibody production as a possible mechanism operative in immunotherapy using anti-class II antibodies. Furthermore, this data also suggests a protective, beneficial role for the endogenous anti-DR autoantibodies in RA.
authors.affiliation: Lovelace Medical Foundation, Biomedical Research Division, Albuquerque, NM 87108.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Brozek
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Marnell
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Searles
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007518:Isoantibodies; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor