Lymphocyte response to virus antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The cell-mediated immune response of lymphocytes to rubella, measles, parainfluenza types 1, 2, and 3, varicella-zoster and herpes virus type 1 virus antigens was evaluated in 15 SLE patients and 15 matched controls by incorporating 3H-thymidine in whole blood cultures as a measure of blastic transformation. SLE patients were less responsive than normal individuals to six of eight virus antigens tested. Culture of washed SLE cells in AB plasma did not reverse the hyporesponsiveness. The results indicated that a functional impairment of the circulating lymphocytes appeared to be responsible for the in vitro hyporesponsiveness of SLE patients to virus antigens.