Excessive production of interleukin 6/B cell stimulatory factor-2 in rheumatoid arthritis.
High levels of interleukin 6 (IL 6/B cell stimulatory factor-2) were detected in synovial fluids from the joints of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The cells found in freshly isolated synovial fluid constitutively expressed IL 6 mRNA. The synovial tissues obtained by joint biopsy were also found to produce IL 6 in vitro. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that CD2+ T cells as well as CD20+ blastoid B cells in the synovial tissues produce IL 6. The data indicate that IL 6 is generated constitutively in RA and its overproduction may explain the local as well as the generalized symptoms of RA, since IL 6 can function as B cell growth and differentiation factor as well as hepatocyte-stimulating factor.
Hirano
T
T
Division of Immunology, Osaka University, Japan.
Matsuda
T
T
Turner
M
M
Miyasaka
N
N
Buchan
G
G
Tang
B
B
Sato
K
K
Shimizu
M
M
Maini
R
R
Feldmann
M
M
D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology
D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic