Cytotoxins in Disease

Abstract

Lymphocytotoxic antibodies were found in 56 of 64 serum specimens from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 30 of 53 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These cytotoxic antibodies characteristically reacted with a temperature optimum of 15°C as was found earlier with serums from patients with infectious mononucleosis, rubella and rubeola. The lymphotoxin found in systemic lupus was cytotoxic to autologous lymphocytes in 24 of 32 specimens tested. No correlation was found to the antibodies detected by radioactive labeled deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) immunoelectrophoresis, antibodies against single-strand DNA and DNA. However, a definite association with antinuclear-factor activity and a weak association with latex-fixation tests were found. Association of specificity was tested against 18 different HL-A specificities, and antibodies against HL-A11, Te54, Te56 and Te59 were frequently observed.