Deficient gamma-interferon production in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
We examined the ability of peripheral mononuclear cells (MNC) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to produce gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) in vitro. MNC from patients with SLE produced varying amounts of gamma-IFN upon mitogenic stimulation. However, they produced distinctly decreased amounts of gamma-IFN upon in vitro stimulation with interleukin-2 (IL-2). Deficient production seemed to be primary, rather than secondary to either excessive monocytic suppression or failure of IL-2 to bind to the MNC surface membranes. gamma-IFN-specific RNA transcription, as determined by slot-blot analysis, was severely decreased in MNC that had been stimulated with phytohemagglutinin or IL-2. These findings suggest that MNC of patients with SLE have defects in the IL-2 signal transduction which is required for production of gamma-IFN.
D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis
D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012313:RNA; D007371:Interferon-gamma