Studies of anti-lymphocyte antibody in patients with active SLE. II. Effect of anti-lymphocyte antibody on autoreactive cell clones.
The effect of anti-lymphocyte antibodies of active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on the immune regulation of autoantibody production was studied. The present study demonstrated that there were native DNA (nDNA)-sensitized T lymphocytes even in inactive SLE and no or few nDNA-sensitized T lymphocytes in normal individuals, and that in the inactive stages of SLE suppressor T lymphocytes might inhibit the activation of nDNA-sensitized T lymphocytes eliciting the production of anti-DNA antibodies by B lymphocytes. In the active stage of SLE, the anti-lymphocyte antibodies could eliminate the suppressor function of T lymphocytes or a subset of cells capable of either regulating their appearance or differentiating into them, which inhibited such responses. The different suppression of DNA and extractable nuclear antigen (ENA)-stimulated blastogenic response is further discussed.
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D000941:Antigens; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002999:Clone Cells; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000941:Antigens; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D004247:DNA