title: Abnormalities of immunoregulation in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Immunoregulatory imbalances are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). We have found that a subset of patients with JRA demonstrate a marked expansion of B cells without an alteration in B cell subset distribution. However, there was actually decreased in vitro immunoglobulin production in response to stimulation with either pokeweed mitogen or hydrocortisone. These B cell abnormalities were found to correlate with a marked increase in the percentage of CD4 + CD45R + T cells, a T cell subset thought to be responsible for inducing suppression. In addition, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of CD4 + CD29 + T cells, a T cell subset thought to be responsible for inducing B cell immunoglobulin production. Our results suggest that the B cell abnormalities seen in JRA may be related to defects in T cell immunoregulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Barron
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: DeCunto
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Montalvo
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Orson
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007223:Infant; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D006854:Hydrocortisone