Insensitivity to interferon of NK cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Fitzharris, P.; Alcocer, J.; Stephens, H.A.; Knight, R.A.; Snaith, M.L.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology 47(1): 110-118
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9104 PMID: 6178542 Document Number: 184804
Natural cytotoxicity (NK) by fresh E-rosette-negative (ER-) cells from normal donors was increased after overnight incubation with purified IFN alpha and with supernatants containing IFN gamma. ER- cells from 61% of 23 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus did not show increased cytotoxicity after treatment with IFN alpha. Similarly, ER- cells from nine of 18 patients that were treated with IFN gamma-containing supernatants failed to show increased cytotoxicity. The patients who did not show enhanced cytotoxic responses to IFN had higher mean indices of disease activity than responding patients.