Increased apoptotic neutrophils and macrophages and impaired macrophage phagocytic clearance of apoptotic neutrophils in systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective: To evaluate whether patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a higher rate of apoptosis in and secondary necrosis of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and macrophages compared with controls; to compare the rate of macrophage phagocytic clearance of apoptotic PMNs in patients with SLE and healthy controls; to evaluate whether in vitro PMN and macrophage apoptosis and secondary necrosis, and the ability of macrophages to phagocytose apoptotic bodies, are correlated with lupus disease activity; and to determine whether macrophage clearance of apoptotic bodies in patients with SLE and normal controls is related to certain serum factors.