In vitro T-cell functions specific to an anti-DNA idiotype and serological markers in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
The human monoclonal autoantibody 16/6 is a common anti-DNA idiotype found to have clinical relevance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Therefore the ability of peripheral blood T cells of SLE patients and healthy controls to proliferate and to produce helper T-cell factors following stimulation with this idiotype was tested. It was found that T cells of 75% of healthy donors proliferated to the 16/6 idiotype, whereas only 22% of SLE patients responded to this idiotype by proliferation. On the other hand, the capability to produce T-cell helper factors specific to the 16/6 idiotype was found in a higher percentage of SLE patients (48%) as compared to healthy controls (31%). The low frequency of proliferative responses in SLE patients might be due either to the chronic exposure to the 16/6 idiotype or to the production of antiidiotype antibodies against the 16/6 idiotype, which interfere with the response to the latter stimulator.
Mendlovic
S
S
Department of Chemical Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Shoenfeld
Y
Y
Bakimer
R
R
Segal
R
R
Dayan
M
M
Mozes
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D004247:DNA