LOSS OF SUPPRESSOR T-LYMPHOCYTE FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE)

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  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (1) , 125-133
Abstract
Immunological reactivity in patients with SLE was studied in vitro by measuring trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNS) specific antibody formation by peripheral blood lymphocytes. Lymphocytes from patients with SLE would produce an increased number of TNP-specific plaque-forming cells (PFC), while no such response could be seen in normal controls. Co-culture of lymphocytes from active SLE patients and normal controls was performed with TNS-horse red blood cells (TNS-HRBC). The number of B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocytes PFC from active SLE patients was suppressed by T lymphocytes from normal controls. The number of B lymphocyte PFC from normal controls was increased by T lymphocytes from active SLE patients. Co-culture of lymphocytes from identical twins discordant for SLE was also performed, and the same results were obtained. The effects of Con [concanavalin] A on antibody formation were examined. Con A-treated T lymphocytes from a normal control markedly suppressed TNS-specific PFC by peripheral lymphocytes from active SLE patients. Con A-treated T lymphocytes from an active SLE patient did not suppress TNP-specific PFC by lymphocytes from another active SLE patient. Active SLE patients probably had a loss of suppressor T lymphocyte function.