Stimulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis by cold precipitable complexes containing DNA-anti-DNA in active nephritis of systemic lupus erythematosus.

DNA-anti-DNA cold precipitable complexes (CPC) isolated from 21 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were tested for their ability to stimulate polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotaxis and to activate complement in vitro. The complexes activated complement in 20 out of 21 cases and stimulated PMN chemotaxis in 13 out of 21. The stimulation of chemotaxis was present in the majority of patients with renal involvement (10 out of 13) and active disease (8 out of 9), while being almost negligible in those without renal involvement or active disease. In patients studied sequentially, CPC-stimulated chemotaxis was reduced to nil with the remission of the disease. CPC appears to play a pathogenic role in active systemic lupus erythematosus with renal involvement.