title: B-cell growth-promoting activity in supernatants from CD4+ cells from synovial fluid and peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritides.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare CD4+ cells from peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis with regard to mitogen-induced production of B-cell growth-promoting activity. CD4+ cells were isolated by a direct immunomagnetic technique and supernatants from both unstimulated and mitogen-stimulated CD4+ cells were studied. B-cell growth-promoting activity was assayed using highly purified B cells obtained from peripheral blood of healthy individuals. The indicator B cells were isolated by an indirect immunomagnetic technique and solid-phase anti-mu was used for activation of the B cells. Supernatants of unstimulated CD4+ cells from SF and PB did not contain B-cell growth-promoting activity, while usually high levels of B-cell growth-promoting activity were detected in the supernatants from mitogen-stimulated cultures. There was no significant difference in the B-cell growth-promoting activity level between supernatants from SF CD4+ and patient PB CD4+ cells, nor was there any significant difference between SF CD4+ and control PB CD4+ supernatants. The results indicate that the CD4+ cells in the SF have a normal potential for producing B-cell growth-promoting activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Rheumatology, National Hospital of Norway, Oslo.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hovdenes
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma