STUDIES ON THE FUNCTIONS OF LYMPHOCYTES FROM PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES : 1. DNA Repair of Lymphocytes from Patients with Systemic Lupus Malignancies in Vitro Ultraviolet Irradiation

Abstract

Venous blood lymphocytes from normal donors and patients with autoimmune diseases were UV-irradiated and 10μCi/ml ^3H-TdR and 10^<-2>M hydroxyurea was immediately added to determine unscheduled DNA synthesis by incorporated radioactivity. Between T and B cells from normal subjects, there was no difference in DNA repair, while in those from T and B cell type CLL it was markedly decreased. In most SLE patients and some patients with RA, PSS and malignant lymphoma, DNA repair was moderately decreased. Autoradiographic grain count distribution on lymphocytec nuclei of SLE patients showed a slightly lower count than normal. Serum from SLE patients showed no inhibitory effect on the repair of lymphocytes from normal subjects.