ALTERED FUNCTION OF SUPPRESSOR LYMPHOCYTES-T IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS - INVITRO IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO AUTO-ANTIGEN

Immunological reactivity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was assessed by in vitro stimulation of Ig [immunoglobulin] synthesis by peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to native DNA (n-DNA). Lymphocytes from patients with active SLE synthesized significantly larger amounts of Ig when stimulated with n-DNA than did lymphocytes from patients with inactive SLE or from normal controls. Lymphocytes from patients with active SLE and from normal controls were cocultured in the presence of n-DNA. Ig synthesis by B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocytes from patients with active SLE stimulated with n-DNA was suppressed by T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes from normal controls; Ig synthesis by B lymphocytes from normal controls stimulated with n-DNA increased when cocultured with T lymphocytes from active SLE. The effect of Con [concanavalin] A pretreatment of T lymphocytes on Ig synthesis was examined. Pretreated T lymphocytes from normal controls and patients with inactive SLE significantly suppressed PWM[pokeweed mitogen]-stimulated Ig synthesis by peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal controls and n-DNA-stimulated Ig synthesis by lymphocytes from patients with active SLE. Con A-pretreated Ig synthesis by lymphocytes from normal controls or n-DNA-stimulated Ig synthesis by lymphocytes from other patients with active SLE. Suppressor T lymphocyte function is apparently lost in patients with active SLE.