The in vitro production of anti-nuclear antibodies by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Demonstration of T cell requirement and soluble inducing factor (s) for anti-nuclear antibodies triggering in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Mach, P.S.; Kharouby, M.; Lutcher, F.; Olivier, J.L.; Bazely, N.; Dougados, M.; Amor, B.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology 57(3): 535-540
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9104 PMID: 6235994 Document Number: 232938
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 29 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 14 normal individuals were investigated for the in vitro production of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA). Twenty-eight of 29 SLE patients but only 1 control spontaneously produced ANA in unstimulated PBMC. Pokeweed mitogen induced ANA synthesis in 6 controls. No detectable ANA was observed in B cell enriched fraction except in 2 cases of SLE. Recombination of B + T cell enriched fractions and PBMC supernatants from SLE patients could induce B cells to synthesize ANA. These results indicate that: SLE patients spontaneously produced ANA in vitro whereas controls rarely did; autoreactive clones exist in normal individuals but are kept under control and T cell help is required for ANA triggering.