Systemic lupus erythematosus sera inhibit antigen presentation by macrophages to T cells.
Several reports have demonstrated that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have a decreased response to exogenous antigens both in vivo and in vitro. We examined the effects of SLE sera on macrophage (M phi) antigen-presenting functions. M phi from normal donors were pulsed with tetanus toxoid antigen in the presence of SLE or normal human serum (NHS), fixed in paraformaldehyde, and incubated with autologous T cells. Of 16 SLE sera tested, 11 inhibited the T-cell proliferative response (measured by [3H]thymidine uptake) compared to control NHS; mean percentage inhibition was 53 +/- 23%. This inhibition did not result from interference with antigen uptake by M phi and was found in both IgM and IgG fractions of the sera. There was a positive correlation between the amount of inhibition and the cytotoxic reactivity of the SLE sera against M phi as measured by Terasaki assay (r = 0.659, P less than 0.01). However, the presence and the amount of the inhibition did not correlate with serum immune complexes by Clq ELISA, serum anti-DR antibodies, or clinical disease activity of the SLE patients. We conclude that some SLE sera possess IgM and IgG antibodies reactive with M phi which affect M phi antigen-presenting functions, and might relate to decreased antigenic response in SLE patients.
Brozek
C M
CM
Lovelace Medical Foundation, Biomedical Research Division, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108.
Hoffman
C L
CL
Savage
S M
SM
Searles
R P
RP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens