The relationship between CD5-expressing B lymphocytes and serologic abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis patients and their relatives.
The influence of genetic factors on the expression of CD5+ B lymphocytes and their relationship to a broad spectrum of autoantibodies was investigated in a study of 12 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 52 of their healthy first-degree relatives. The proportion of CD5+ B cells was significantly higher in RA patients (mean +/- SEM 23.9 +/- 2.7%) compared with that in their relatives (18.3 +/- 1.1%, P less than 0.05) and compared with that in a group of healthy control subjects (16.1 +/- 1.8%; P less than 0.05). Much more striking, however, were the high levels of CD5+ B cells found in the patients and their relatives in 5 of the families studied. Increases in total immunoglobulin levels and autoantibody levels were frequently observed in RA patients (approximately 20-40%) and their relatives (approximately 10-20%). Furthermore, a statistically significant correlation (P less than 0.01) between IgM rheumatoid factor and the percentage of B lymphocytes expressing CD5 was observed.
Youinou
P
P
Laboratory of Immunology, Brest University Medical School, France.
Mackenzie
L
L
Katsikis
P
P
Merdrignac
G
G
Isenberg
D A
DA
Tuaillon
N
N
Lamour
A
A
Le Goff
P
P
Jouquan
J
J
Drogou
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012698:Serologic Tests
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor