DNA‐daunorubicin complexes specifically suppress in vitro spontaneous anti‐DNA antibody production in lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Elevated production of anti‐DNA antibody in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a central problem in the pathogenesis of tissue injury. In the present study, we attempted to manipulate anti‐DNA antibody production through the antigen‐cytotoxic drug conjugates, DNA‐daunorubicin complexes. The effect of DNA‐daunorubicin complexes was determined by examining SLE lymphocytes for spontaneous in vitro production of anti‐DNA antibody. These complexes, at 2 μg/ml, suppressed anti‐DNA antibody production, but not total IgG production, which suggests that specific suppression of anti‐DNA antibody production was achieved at this concentration. We believe that the DNA‐daunorubicin complexes affected mainly B cells, since such suppression was obtained by treating B cells, as well as B plus T cells. Furthermore, the complexes had no effect on the proliferative responses of SLE T cells to DNA, phytohemagglutinin, or concanavalin A. These results indicate that DNA‐daunorubicin complexes may have the potential for selectively suppressing anti‐DNA antibody production in patients with SLE.