Open AccessQuantitation of IgM‐ and IgG‐secreting B cells in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Author(s) -
Klinman Dennis M.,
Shirai Akira,
Ishigatsubo Yoshiaki,
Conover Jacqueline,
Steinberg Alfred D.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780341110
Subject(s) - peripheral blood , medicine , immunology , lupus erythematosus , peripheral , immunoglobulin m , antibody , systemic lupus , immunoglobulin g , pathology , disease
An enzyme‐linked immunospot assay was used to quantitate the number of autoantibody‐secreting B cells in the peripheral blood of 67 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. These patients had 1.5–4‐fold more lymphocytes secreting IgG and IgM per million peripheral blood lymphocytes than did normal controls. There was a concomitant increase in the number of B cells secreting antibodies reactive with a diverse panel of foreign and self antigens (including actin, myosin, trinitrophenylated keyhole limpet hemocyanin, ovalbumin, and retroviral gp160). By comparison, the number of B cells producing anti‐DNA antibodies was increased disproportionately. The magnitude of this anti‐DNA response correlated significantly with disease activity. Thus, B cell activation in human systemic lupus erythematosus had characteristics of both generalized (polyclonal) B cell activation and (auto)antigen‐specific immune stimulation.