title: B lymphocyte activation in systemic lupus erythematosus: spontaneous production of IgG antibodies to DNA and environmental antigens in cultures of blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: IgG antibodies to DNA, influenza virus haemagglutinin (HA), adenovirus hexon (HX) and mannan from Candida albicans (MN) have been determined in supernatants from 2-day unstimulated cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from SLE patients and controls. Mean values were much higher in the SLE group, with from 20% (MN) to 85% (DNA) of patients giving values above the normal range. Although a significant correlation was observed between anti-DNA and anti-HA production, anti-HX and anti-MN showed no such correlations. The specificity of the ELISA assays was demonstrated by inhibition tests. It is concluded that a selective form of polyclonal activation in SLE results in the production of antibodies to foreign as well as to self antigens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Salaman
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Isenberg
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D004247:DNA