Tiopronine-induced reduction of rheumatoid factor functional affinity and asialylated IgG in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Serum and synovial fluid (SF) from 16 rheumatoid arthritis patients were evaluated before and after a 2-month treatment with tiopronine (TP). The levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) declined, as did the functional affinity of the remaining RF (p less than 0.01 in serum and p less than 0.05 in SF). Concomitant restoration of the sialylation of IgG was observed (p less than 0.05 in serum and SF). Following an initial increase, a significant reduction was observed in the level of soluble interleukin-2 receptors in serum (p less than 0.05) and SF (p less than 0.05) after treatment with TP.
Youinou
P
P
Laboratory of Immunology, Brest University Medical School Hospital, France.
Keusch
J
J
Casburn-Budd
R
R
Paolozzi
L
L
Lamour
A
A
Le Goff
P
P
Bendaoud
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008625:Tiopronin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D008625:Tiopronin