Serum level of interferon-gamma in autoimmune diseases.
Interferon-gamma is one of the cytokines which have various immunoregulatory functions. In the present study, the serum interferon-gamma level was determined in autoimmune diseases. It was increased in the active cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Since there was a positive correlation between the serum interferon-gamma level and the rate of peripheral mononuclear cells positive for HLA-DR antigen in systemic lupus erythematosus, circulating interferon-gamma might have a biological functions as suggested by many in vitro studies. In rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome, there was no correlation between the serum interferon-gamma level and the clinical findings. These data suggest that interferon-gamma might be associated with the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as SLE and MCTD, and it can be one of the indices for their disease activity.
Funauchi
M
M
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama.
Sugishima
H
H
Minoda
M
M
Horiuchi
A
A
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012016:Reference Values; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015415:Biomarkers; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D004247:DNA; D011239:Prednisolone