Lymphocyte antigens in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus. Relationship of lymphocyte antibody specificities to clinical disease.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationships among specific lymphocyte antigenic reactivities of lupus sera and central nervous system complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lymphocytotoxic antibody (LCA) positivity, and specific cognitive impairment.


METHODS
Sera from 115 patients with SLE were examined for the presence of IgM- and IgG-class autoantibodies binding to surface target antigens on lymphocytes, by immunoblotting and microdroplet lymphocytotoxicity studies. Seventy-three of these patients also underwent detailed neuropsychological testing within the same time period.


RESULTS
Significant associations were found between reactivities to several lymphocyte antigenic moieties and neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) or cognitive impairment. Specifically, immunoblot reactivities to 31-32-kd, 50-52-kd, 54-56-kd, and 97-98-kd targets were associated with clinical NPSLE; there was a significant association between reactivity to the 50-52-kd moiety in particular and cognitive impairment. There were also associations between LCA and immunoblot reactivity. Furthermore, the previously reported association between LCA positivity and specific visuospatial cognitive impairment was confirmed with data obtained from 2 different batteries of neuropsychological tests.


CONCLUSIONS
In some cases, specific antigenic targets of LCA-containing sera may be implicated in the pathogenesis of NPSLE:
Denburg
S D
SD
Department of Psychiatry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Behmann
S A
SA
Carbotte
R M
RM
Denburg
J A
JA
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens