title: Enhanced interferon-gamma production by lymphocytes induced by a mitogen from mycoplasma arthritidis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: We have examined proliferation of and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by peripheral blood lymphocytes induced by a purified mitogen derived from mycoplasma arthritidis (MAS) in patients with seronegative spondylo-arthropathies and healthy individuals. In all patients and healthy controls MAS exerted a potent nonspecific lymphoproliferation. In contrast, only patients with ankylosing spondylitis (ASp) showed a strong IFN-gamma production after stimulation with MAS. The maximal IFN-gamma response was observed in HLA-B27+/HLA-DQw3+ patients. However, healthy controls with the HLA-DQw3 haplotype with or without the presence of HLA-B27 exhibited also a slight but statistically not significant increase of IFN-gamma production. Moreover, in this study we have found an enhanced frequency of HLA-DQw3 in patients with ASp and reactive arthritis. This immunogenetic association explains the enhanced lymphocyte reactivity in these inflammatory rheumatic disorders to mycoplasmal antigens.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Poliklinik der Universität, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lemmel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Homfeld
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirchner
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001168:Arthritis / Q000276:immunology; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008934:Mitogens / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; C051569:HLA-DQ3 antigen; D008934:Mitogens; D007371:Interferon-gamma