title: Frequency of anti-DNA antibody producing cells from normals and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: The frequency of anti-DNA antibody producing cells from normals and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was determined. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from normals and patients with SLE were cultured for 8 and 15 days with and without transformation by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Culture supernatants were examined for the presence of anti-DNA antibody using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that PBL from patients with SLE spontaneously produce anti-DNA antibodies whereas PBL from normals do not. After EBV transformation, anti-DNA antibody producing cells were detected in both cultures from patients with SLE as well as from normals. These data suggest that the high levels of anti-DNA antibody observed in patients with SLE represent activation of B cells committed to anti-DNA antibody production and that such cells are present but are not activated in normal individuals.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D004247:DNA