Subset specificity of antilymhocyte antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus. II. Preferential reactivity with T4 + cells is associated with relative depletion of autologous T4 + cells.
Using indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry, we determined the proportion and number of T3+, T4+, and T8+ cells in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus whose sera were positive for cold-reactive antilymphocyte antibodies versus values in patients whose sera were negative for these antibodies. There was a disproportionate reduction in T4+ peripheral lymphocytes when cold-reactive antilymphocyte antibodies preferentially cytotoxic for this subpopulation were present in autologous serum. The decrease in this subset was responsible for a reduction in the T4:T8 ratio; variation in the number and proportion of T8+ cells was insignificant. A similar, but autoantibody-independent, alteration in the T4+ subpopulation was found in patients who were receiving prednisone therapy. A relationship between T cell population abnormalities and systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity, per se, was not observed.
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000032:analysis*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum