title: B cell activity and regulatory T cell function in systemic lupus erythematosus by human B cell colony formation.
abstract: We have examined the ability of B cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to form colonies in vitro. Significantly more B cell colonies growing in the absence of irradiated T cells were observed in patients with active SLE. Helper T cell function of active SLE was normal. Culture supernatants of SLE T cells had significantly less activity to support the B cell colony formation. Our results suggest that the hyperactivity of B cells in SLE may reside in the lupus B cells themselves and that SLE T cells are defective in releasing the soluble factor.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niho
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kusaba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects