Specific allogeneic help by T lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Unfractionated mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) immunized with influenza vaccines do not produce a secondary in vitro anti-influenza antibody response when challenged with virus antigen. Irradiated T lymphocytes from normal, disease control and from SLE donors whether vaccinated or not, help allogeneic normal non-T cells to produce specific anti-influenza antibody in vitro. Irradiated normal T cells, however, do not help allogeneic non-T cells from SLE donors. Non-irradiated T cells from 40% of the SLE patients, irrespective of whether or not they had been vaccinated, also provide specific help for MLC incompatible normal non-T cells in the influenza antibody response. This non-restricted interaction was not seen using non-irradiated T cells from any normal or disease control donor. No anti-DNA antibodies were produced in virus stimulated cultures of non-irradiated or irradiated SLE T cells with allogeneic normal non-T cells.