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. 1999 May;42(5):871-81.
doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(199905)42:5<871::AID-ANR5>3.0.CO;2-J.

Elevated levels and functional capacity of soluble CD40 ligand in systemic lupus erythematosus sera

R K Vakkalanka  1 , C Woo, K A Kirou, M Koshy, D Berger, M K Crow
Affiliations

Elevated levels and functional capacity of soluble CD40 ligand in systemic lupus erythematosus sera

R K Vakkalanka et al. Arthritis Rheum. 1999 May.

Abstract

Objective: To measure soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to study the functional capacity of sCD40L in mediating B cell activation.

Methods: A 2-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure sCD40L in the sera of 66 SLE patients, 30 disease control patients, and 23 healthy subjects. Induction of B cell activation antigen expression was used to assess the functional capacity of sCD40L in SLE sera.

Results: The mean concentration of sCD40L was statistically significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in SLE patients than in disease controls or healthy subjects, and segregation of SLE patients by severe, moderate, or mild extent of disease showed a relationship between disease severity and sCD40L concentration. Western blot analysis demonstrated the presence of the 18-kd band of sCD40L in SLE sera, and the results of a 1-site ELISA protocol suggested that some of the product in SLE sera was present in dimer or trimer form. Functional studies showed that 10 ng/ml of recombinant CD40L, a level present in some SLE sera, induced increased expression of CD95 on B cells. Several SLE sera also induced CD95 or CD86 on Ramos B cells, a result that was inhibited by anti-CD40L monoclonal antibodies.

Conclusion: The soluble form of CD40L is present in the sera of most patients with SLE and may have the capacity to mediate B cell activation. Aberrant expression of CD40L might be predicted to result in activation of bystander B cells, including those that have encountered self antigens, and to contribute to autoantibody secretion.

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