title: Soluble histocompatibility antigens in synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Soluble histocompatibility antigens of the class II region have been detected in synovial fluids obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A capture immunoassay involving two monoclonal antibodies was used; interference by rheumatoid factor, which is a feature of such assays, was overcome by mild pretreatment of fluids with 2-mercaptoethanol. No HLA class II antigen could be detected in matched sera from patients, even when levels were high in synovial fluids. Released HLA-class II material was of high molecular weight (greater than 1000 kD) and was linked to HLA-class I antigen. However, no significant amounts of other common cell surface antigens were detected in the complex, suggesting a preferential release of MHC antigens from cells of the inflamed synovium. Attempts to induce production of similar material from a cell line which expresses HLA class II strongly at the cell surface, by stressing the cells in various ways did not succeed, indicating that release is an active process.
authors.affiliation: Lymphoma Research Unit, Southampton General Hospital, England, UK.
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Douglass
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Spellerberg
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Cawley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012995:Solubility; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens