title: Polyclonal B cell activation in ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: The peripheral blood lymphocyte response of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) to several polyclonal B cell activators was investigated. No differences were found in the reactivity to pokeweed mitogen and protein A between patients and controls; in contrast, the peripheral blood lymphocyte response to Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I (SAC) was significantly higher in patients with AS than in controls. This responsiveness was not influenced either by the presence of the HLA-B27 antigen or by environmental factors or associated diseases, and it was higher in patients with active AS than in those with inactive disease. The percentage of circulating B cells was normal. The responses to T cell mitogens and the percentages of T cell subpopulations were similar in patients and in controls. The peripheral blood lymphocyte hyperactivity of patients with AS to SAC was associated with an increased in vitro production of immunoglobulins.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatic Disease Unit, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benedettini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marelli
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ciompi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008934:Mitogens