Impaired C3b/iC3b deposition on Streptococcus pneumoniae in serum from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Opsonization of S. pneumoniae with C3b/iC3b was significantly reduced in serum from patients with SLE compared with non-SLE rheumatic disease and healthy controls. Failure to appropriately activate the immune system via complement may contribute to the increased susceptibility of SLE subjects to infections, and may correlate with a risk of pneumonia in a subgroup of SLE patients.