Abnormal macrophages and NK cell cytotoxicity in human systemic lupus erythematosus and the role of interferon and serum factors
Zippel, D.; Lackovic, V.; Kocisková, D.; Rovenský, J.; Borecký, L.; Stelzner, A.
Acta Virologica 33(5): 447-453
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-723X PMID: 2483602 Document Number: 331180
Macrophage (MO) and natural killer (NK) cell mediated cytotoxicity to K562 target cells were strikingly decreased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE NK cells failed to release soluble factor(s) for lysing the targets. IFN-induced enhancement of both types of cytotoxicity was impaired. NK cells from healthy subjects kept their activity in culture with or without IFN for more than six days whereas SLE NK cell activity declined to zero at day 3. So, the increased IFN level of many SLE patients and a possibly prior IFN priming effect seemed unrelated to the insensitivity to exogenous IFN in vitro. Inhibition factor(s) of SLE serum suppressed NK cytotoxicity in the presence of IFN whereas IFN sensitivity to MO remained unaffected indicating the complex regulation by serum components of immune reactions.