Anti-DNA antibodies secreted by peripheral B cells of lupus patients have both normal and lupus-specific features.
Autoantibodies present in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are found in low titer in sera of healthy individuals. Hence, it is possible that B cell populations in SLE patients and in normal individuals are homologous and in the absence of regulatory forces would secrete similar antibodies. We therefore studied antibody secretion of Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells of 20 SLE patients and 20 healthy subjects. Normal and lupus antibody repertoires did not differ significantly with respect to antigenic specificities, isotype, avidity, and titer. However, anti-DNA antibodies bearing the anti-DNA-associated idiotype 8.12 were found only in SLE. These findings suggest that the B cell repertoire of SLE and normal individuals is more similar than the serum antibody profile. However, part of the anti-DNA response in SLE probably reflects affinity (antigen driven) maturation as it differs in idiotype profile from anti-DNA response of normal individuals.
Department of Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
A
A
Livneh
G
G
Or
A
A
Many
E
E
Gazit
B
B
Diamond
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D004247:DNA