Rheumatoid arthritis serum or synovial fluid and interleukin 2 abnormally expand natural killer-like cells that are potent stimulators of IgM rheumatoid factor.
We show that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) serum or synovial fluid (SF) increases the growth capacity of normal, interleukin 2 (IL-2) driven cell preparations, compared to normal human serum (NHS). Proliferation in RA serum and SF cultures was primarily associated with expansion of natural killer (NK)-like cells (CD16+, CD57+), and in NHS cultures, with T cell (CD3+ CD4+ CD8+) growth. The capacity of RA serum to promote NK cell growth was related to patient global clinical activity and rheumatoid factor (RF) titers. The NK-like cells, but not the T-like cells, induced high levels of IgM RF synthesis in autologous B cells. Thus, alteration in NK cell growth may disrupt NK-B cell circuits in RA and contribute to B cell dysfunction (RF synthesis).
Santiago-Schwarz
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Division of Rheumatology, Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, NY 11501.
Kay
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Panagiotopoulos
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Carsons
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000032:analysis; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D001798:Blood Proteins; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor