Lymphocyte destruction by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity mediated in vitro by antibodies in serum from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were tested for the presence of IgG antilymphocyte antibodies that are capable of mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from normal donors. The effector cells employed were PBL autologous with the target PBL. Positive ADCC responses were obtained with serum from 5 SLE patients with severe active diseases. It is possible that ADCC is a mechanism by which IgG antilymphocyte antibodies in patients with SLE may mediate in-vivo lymphocytolysis.