DNA-daunorubicin complexes specifically suppress in vitro spontaneous anti-DNA antibody production in lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Elevated production of anti-DNA antibody in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a central problem in the pathogenesis of tissue injury. In the present study, we attempted to manipulate anti-DNA antibody production through the antigen-cytotoxic drug conjugates, DNA-daunorubicin complexes. The effect of DNA-daunorubicin complexes was determined by examining SLE lymphocytes for spontaneous in vitro production of anti-DNA antibody. These complexes, at 2 micrograms/ml, suppressed anti-DNA antibody production, but not total IgG production, which suggests that specific suppression of anti-DNA antibody production was achieved at this concentration. We believe that the DNA-daunorubicin complexes affected mainly B cells, since such suppression was obtained by treating B cells, as well as B plus T cells. Furthermore, the complexes had no effect on the proliferative responses of SLE T cells to DNA, phytohemagglutinin, or concanavalin A. These results indicate that DNA-daunorubicin complexes may have the potential for selectively suppressing anti-DNA antibody production in patients with SLE.
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018736:DNA Adducts; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D018736:DNA Adducts; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; C020270:daunorubicin-DNA; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004247:DNA; D003630:Daunorubicin