Relationship between circulating interferon and anti‐interferon antibodies and impaired natural killer cell activity in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Interferon (IFN) production and response are impaired in a high percentage of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. In addition, elevated serum levels of α-IFN or anti–α-IFN antibodies are present in some SLE patients. This study examined the relationship of circulating IFN and anti-IFN antibodies to the impairment of natural killer (NK) cell function in SLE. All 15 SLE patients studied had measurable circulating α-IFN, while the normal controls had minimal serum IFN. Neither patient nor control sera contained any detectable anti–α-IFN activity. However, most of the SLE patients demonstrated defects in NK cell function. Because these defects in NK cell function appeared to be associated with circulating IFN, but not anti-IFN, antibodies, the effect of prolonged in vitro IFN exposure on NK cell function of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was determined. It was found that prolonged exposure to IFN induced both an apparent defect in IFN response and a definite impairment of baseline NK cell function. These results suggest that prolonged elevation of circulating α-IFN levels could be responsible, in part, for the defects in natural cytotoxicity present in SLE.