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The B-cell activation pathway in human systemic lupus erythematosus: Imbalancedin vitro production of lymphokines and association with serum analytical findings

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Abstract

Recent knowledge of B-lymphocyte physiology has clarified the role of T cell-derived lymphokines in clonal proliferation and differentiation of B-cell responses. Lymphokine production was analyzed in 19 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and sex- and age-matched controls in relation to clinical activity and steroid treatment. Whenin vitro production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and B-cell growth factor (BCGF) was tested, both activities were found to be diminished in the group of patients (P<0.01), while B-cell differentiation factor (BCDF) activity was higher in this group with respect to normal controls (P<0.01). Interestingly enough, thisin vitro BCDF synthesis was positively correlated with clinical activity regardless of low-dose steroid treatment. A correlation was also found between BCDF production and the levels of IgG (r=0.64,P<0.01), anti-DNA antibodies (r=0.52,P<0.05), and the IgG/IgM ratio (r=0.7,P<0.01) in serum. Implications of these abnormal T-lymphocyte functions in SLE with respect toin vivo B-cell function are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Clínica Puerta de Hierro, Universidad Autónoma, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Maria Luisa Gaspar & Carmen Gutierrez

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Clínica Puerta de Hierro, Universidad Autónoma, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Melchor Alvarez-Mon

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  1. Maria Luisa Gaspar
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Gaspar, M.L., Alvarez-Mon, M. & Gutierrez, C. The B-cell activation pathway in human systemic lupus erythematosus: Imbalancedin vitro production of lymphokines and association with serum analytical findings. J Clin Immunol 8, 266–274 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916555

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