Cellular regulation of anti-nRNP antibody synthesis is different from that of anti-DNA antibody synthesis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
The cellular regulation of anti-nuclear ribonucleoprotein (nRNP) antibody synthesis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was examined and compared with that of anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies. In vitro antibody production by lymphocytes from SLE patients with antibodies to either dsDNA or nRNP alone was measured using dsDNA-specific and nRNP-specific solid-phase radioimmunoassays (RIA). Lymphocytes of SLE patients with only anti-dsDNA antibodies and normal individuals failed to synthesize anti-nRNP antibody with or without nRNP stimulation. In contrast, lymphocytes from SLE patients with anti-nRNP antibody alone in their sera synthesized in vitro a large amount of anti-nRNP antibody with or without nRNP stimulation. Experiments with reconstituted autologous lymphocytes indicated that B cells and T cells were required for anti-nRNP antibody synthesis. As expected, helper function for antibody synthesis by autologous B cells resided in the T4-cell population and suppressor function in the T8-cell population. T8 cells from SLE patients with anti-nRNP antibody alone suppressed anti-nRNP antibody synthesis by autologous B cells irrespective of clinical activity. This is in contrast to anti-dsDNA antibody production, which was not suppressed by autologous T8 cells. These results indicate that the cellular regulation of anti-nRNP antibody synthesis in SLE is different from that of anti-dsDNA antibody synthesis. Increased anti-nRNP antibody synthesis may be due to increased T4-helper cell function rather than defective T8-suppressor function.
Hosono
O
O
Department of Internal Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical School, Japan.
Takeuchi
T
T
Koide
J
J
Takano
M
M
Abe
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012016:Reference Values; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D004247:DNA