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MR Vol.12 No.3 indexに戻る
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MODERN RHEUMATOLOGY
Vol.12 No.3 |
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Serum C4 levels in patients with systemic
lupus erythematosus in remission |
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| M. Yasuda1, Y. Suenaga1, H. Nishimukai2,
M. Nobunaga1 |
(1)Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical
Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 4546 Tsurumibaru,
Beppu 874-0838, Japan
(2)
Department of Legal Medicine, Ehime University
School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan |
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| Abstract |
| Abstract Twenty-six patients with systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE) showing systemic lupus activity measure (SLAM)
and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) scores r2, as well as a lower
C4 concentration than the mean C4 levels of healthy controls, were
selected to evaluate the C4 levels of SLE patients in remission.
Serum complement (CH50), complement components (C4, C3, and B), complement
split products (C4d, iC3b, and Bb), phenotypic expression of C4 allotype,
C4 production by peripheral blood monocytes, peripheral blood lymphocyte
subpopulation, and interferon-gamma (IFN-%) production were examined.
In patients with SLE in remission, the C4 consumption (C4d/C4) was
found to increase, and this was considered to be the most important
factor for determining the serum concentration of C4. However, the
relevance of the C4 allotypic expression was minimal. The IFN-%-stimulated
production of C4 by peripheral blood monocytes in SLE patients in
remission was also less than that of the healthy controls. The IFN-%-stimulated
production of C4 in SLE patients in remission correlated with the
peripheral blood CD4-positive cells. Less IFN-% was produced by lymphocytes
of SLE in remission than by those of healthy adults. We conclude
that the serum C4 levels in SLE patients in remission reflect the
degree of C4 consumption as well as the disease state, rather than
genetic influences such as a C4A defect. |
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| Key words |
| Key words C4 ・ C4A defect ・ C4d ・ C4 production ・ Systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE) |
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