REDUCED FC-RECEPTOR BEARING CELLS IN PERIPHERAL BLOODS OF PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS AND IN RHEUMATOID SYNOVIAL-FLUIDS

Abstract

Human red cells sensitized with Rh antisera (Ripley) make rosette formations (Fc-rosette) with some lymphocytes. These Fc-rosettes were well inhibited by aggregated human Ig[immunoglobulin]G, hypocomplementemic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sera and rheumatoid synovial fluids. In the present study, Fc-receptor bearing lymphocytes were considerably reduced in peripheral bloods of SLE (16.0 .+-. 7.6%)and rheumatoid synovial fluids (15.6 .+-. 5.3%). EAC[sheep red blood cell IgM complement complex]-rosette formation rates of peripheral bloods of SLE (32.0 .+-. 13.2%) and rheumatoid synovial fluids (30.3 .+-. 11.2%) did not significantly differ from normal peripheral bloods (28.3 .+-. 2.9%). E-rosette forming lymphocytes were reduced in peripheral bloods of SLE (48.7 .+-. 15.7%) and in rheumatoid synovial fluids (49.0 .+-. 14.6%) compared to 61.7 .+-. 8.6% in normal peripheral bloods. Reduced Fc-rosette formation rates correlated well with the Fc-rosette inhibitory rates. Eluates from the lymphocytes in rheumatoid synovial fluids also inhibited Fc-rosette formation. Immune complexes present in peripheral bloods of SLE and rheumatoid synovial fluids are bound to the Fc-receptors on the lymphocytes, block the additional binding of the sensitized red cells, and result in the reduction of Fc-rosette formation.