Abnormal production of and response to B-cell growth factor and B-cell differentiation factor in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We examined the production of and the response to B-cell growth factor (BCGF) and B-cell differentiation factor (BCDF) in 21 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 23 normal subjects. T cells, 2.5 X 10(6)/ml, were cultured for 24 or 72 h with 1% phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). After absorption of PHA by chicken erythrocytes (CRBC), they were used for BCGF and BCDF. In inactive SLE, BCGF activity was significantly lower than that in normal subjects. Active SLE contained two separate groups, one showing normal BCGF activity and the other showing lower activity than normal. In contrast, BCDF activity from initial culture in active SLE was elevated. The B-cell response both to BCGF and BCDF was elevated in active SLE without Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I antigen (SAC) preactivation. However, the B-cell response to SAC was markedly disturbed. Thus SLE B cells were shifted to the mature state in vivo. We also demonstrated pivotal abnormalities of monocytes in SLE B-cell growth and differentiation. These results may contribute to the understanding of the abnormalities of T-B interactions and the overproduction of antibody in SLE.