Accelerated in vitro apoptosis of lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

摘要: SLE is a disease characterized by the generation of an immune response to intact nuclear Ags, especially components nucleosome, histones and DNA. The process programmed cell death, or apoptosis, cleavage chromatin into oligonucleosomes release these nucleosomes extracellular space. To address question whether altered apoptosis might provide source Ags in SLE, we have examined lymphocytes isolated from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), normal controls. Apoptosis was measured three independent methods confirmed gel electrophoresis. Freshly (t0) showed low levels apoptosis. However, demonstrated significant increase number apoptotic cells at t0 compared controls RA patients. In tissue culture, all patient groups underwent but rate derived 2.35-fold faster than increased could not be accounted for corticosteroid cytotoxic medication. There correlation between activity as systemic lupus measure vitro. during ELISA; released amounts nucleosomal material space direct proportion Abnormal may Ag drive allow formation complexes. demonstration vitro raises possibility that abnormalities contribute pathogenesis SLE.