Phenotypic and functional features of CD5+ B lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.
Using flow cytometry B lymphocytes expressing CD5 were increased in the blood of 15 out of 31 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In contrast to the monoclonal CD5+ B lymphocytes in patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, CD5+ B cells from RA patients and neonatal cord blood are polyclonal as demonstrated by kappa/lambda expression. These B cells co-express mu and delta heavy chains and are CD19, CD20, CD21 positive. Purified CD5+ and CD5- B cells appeared of similar size and granularity as judged by light scatter values. Staphylococcus aureus C stimulated cord blood B cells showed loss of CD5 antigen following activation and production of similar amounts of IgM-rheumatoid factor (RF). EBV stimulation of purified RA B subsets lead to greater production of IgM-RF by CD5+ B cells than by CD5-B cells suggesting an enrichment of precursor cells in this fraction.
Plater-Zyberk
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C
Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London, U.K.
Maini
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RN
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis*; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins