Objective. Decreased clearance of apoptotic cells is suggested to be a major pathogenic factor in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the binding of SLE autoantibodies to apoptotic cells influences the phagocytosis of these cells by macrophages. Conclusion. Autoantibodies from SLE patients are able to opsonize apoptotic cells and inhibit their uptake by macrophages via an Fc␥R-dependent mechanism.
Methods. Apoptosis was induced in a human