STUDIES OF ANTI-LYMPHOCYTE ANTIBODY OF PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE SLE .1. CAUSE OF LOSS OF SUPPRESSOR LYMPHOCYTE-T FUNCTION

Effect or anti‐lymphocyte antibody or active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on lymphocyte function was examined. Lymphocytes from normal individuals treated with anti‐lymphocyte antibody and complement exhibited marked inhibition of response to concanavalin A (Con A). while the response of lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin M (PHA‐M) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) was slightly affected. In mixed lymphocyte culture response, both stimulator and responder tells were insensitive to anti‐lymphocyte antibody. Treatment of sensitized lymphocytes with anti‐lymphocyte amibody and complement caused a dose‐dependent suppression of blaslo‐genic response to purified protein derivatives (PPD). No effect, however, was noted on migration‐inhibitory factor (MlF)‐producing cells. In PWM‐driven Ig synthesis, T lymphocytes lacking the anti‐lymphocyte antibody‐reactive T‐cell subset enhanced PWM‐driven Ig synthesis of autologous B lymphocytes. Con‐A‐induced suppressor function of lymphocytes was abolished by the treatment with unti‐lymphocytc antibody and complement. The present study demonstrated that lymphocytes from normal individuals after treatment with anti‐lymphocyte antibody and complement showed similar immunological reactivities with lymphocytes from active SLE, indicating that those anti‐lymphocyte antibodies could play an important role in defective suppressor cell function. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved