Suppression of C3 rosette formation by serum from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. A corollary of disease activity.

Many sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) inhibit C3 rosette formation of normal human lymphocytes. Fractionation of SLE sera by Sephadex G-200 gel chromatography showed that the inhibition was present in low molecular weight serum fractions. A correlation was noted between inhibition of C3 rosette formation and disease activity. Inhibition of C3 rosette formation may be helpful and simple way to monitor clinical activity and complement activation in patients with SLE.