Systemic lupus erythematosus understanding grows

As a medical student I recall hearing a lecture on the LE cell phenomenon, which refers to the ingestion of an apoptotic leucocyte by a neutrophil. At that time we did not use the term apoptosis, but we all understood that a dead leucocyte was being phagocytosed by a live one. Not surprisingly, free DNA or nuc­leosomal material can be liberated into the plasma of such patients, and immune com­plexes might form.