title: Lymphocyte response to mitogens in progressive systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Lymphocyte responses to the mitogens phytohemagglutinin P(PHA-P), concanavallin A (Con A), and pokeweed (PWM) were studied in 18 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). A subgroup of these patients with multisystem involvement showed a significantly decreased lymphocyte response to both Con A and PWM when compared to normal controls. However those PSS patients with myositis, although having multisystem involvement, had normal lymphocyte response to all three mitogens. PHA-P stumulation was normal in all PSS patients. Antinuclear antibodies, elevated sedimentation rates, and positive latex fixation were noted only in the multisystem disease group with abnormal lymphocyte function.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009220:Myositis / Q000276:immunology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D037102:Lectins; D008934:Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A