EXPRESSION AND FUNCTION OF FAS ANTIGEN AND BCL-2 IN HUMAN SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS LYMPHOCYTES

Studies indicate that autoimmune phenomena might be caused by a failur e to eliminate autoreactive lymphocytes. Therefore, we examined Fas an tigen and bcl-2 expression and function in lymphocytes from human syst emic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Freshly isolated lymphocytes from patients with active SLE expressed more Fas antigen than did lymp hocytes from patients with inactive SLE or from normal controls. They also showed characteristic DNA fragmentation after treatment with anti -Fas antibody. Expression of bcl-2 in T cells from active SLE patients was significantly higher than that in cells from inactive SLE patient s and from normals. These data suggest that lymphocytes in patients wi th active SLE maintain an activated state in vivo. However, the role o f Fas and bcl-2 expression in the regulation of lymphocyte survival in SLE is still unclear and further investigations concerning the role o f these molecules in autoimmune phenomenon in SLE are needed. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.