Opsonization by anti-dsDNA antibodies of apoptotic cells in systemic lupus erythematosus

In order to asses the role of the soluble mediators of serum from patients with SLE in the apoptotic cell clearance, we measured the in vitro phagocytosis of apoptotic Jurkat cells by normal healthy donor macrophages in the presence of SLE patients' sera. A significant increase of the phagocytic index (NHD = 1.0 +/- 0.3; SLE = 1.9 +/- 0.6; p < 0.01) was to be observed in the presence of serum from patients with SLE. The increased phagocytic index correlated to the anti- dsDNA antibodies titers. We conclude that anti-dsDNA antibodies present in sera of patients with SLE favor the apoptotic cell phagocytosis by opsonization of the target cells. This may represent a deviation of the clearance process towards inflammation and a new pathologic feature of these autoantibodies in SLE.