title: T cell up-regulation of B cells via their idiotypes contributing to the development of systemic lupus erythematosus. A hypothesis.
abstract: A mechanism for sustained production of pathogenic autoantibody subsets in patients and mice with systemic lupus erythematosus may be centered on selective up-regulation of B cells bearing certain idiotypes. Public idiotypes are characteristic of some autoantibodies, including anti-DNA. Evidence is reviewed that suggests that immunoglobulins bearing certain public idiotypes, such as IdGN2, contain autoantibody subsets that are nephritogenic in human systemic lupus erythematosus and in New Zealand black/New Zealand white F1 mice. Up-regulation of such cells could promote development of nephritis. Work from several laboratories has shown that production of immunoglobulin G antibodies to DNA depends upon T cell help. In New Zealand black/New Zealand white F1 mice, cloned T cells are dominated by autoreactive cells that produce B cell growth factors. We suggest that this sustained release of B cell growth factors combined with selection by T helper cells for B cells bearing IdGN2 are a major mechanism for sustained up-regulation of nephritogenic subsets of autoantibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ebling
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Panosian-Sahakian
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kalunian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D004247:DNA