title: Familial occurrence of impaired interleukin-2 activity and increased peripheral blood B cells actively secreting immunoglobulins in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We tested the hypothesis that some abnormalities of immune functions are genetically controlled in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a phytohemagglutinin-induced interleukin-2 (IL-2) activity assay and a spontaneous plaque-forming cell assay to evaluate T-cell and B-cell function, respectively, in 34 clinically healthy family members of six SLE probands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Impaired IL-2 activity was found in 15 of the 29 consanguineous relatives. There was no relation between the household relatives and the nonhousehold relatives; none of the five nonconsanguineous household persons had abnormal results. Results for the B-cell assay were abnormal in 22 of the 29 consanguineous relatives. The B-cell abnormalities were more commonly observed in the consanguineous household relatives; four of the five nonconsanguineous household relatives also had abnormal assay results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that the impaired IL-2 activity in relatives appears to strongly correlate with a genetic relationship. Although the evidence favors a genetic basis for the B-cell abnormalities, environmental effects may also contribute to the familial occurrence of these abnormalities.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane Medical University, Japan.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Sakane
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Murakawa
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Suzuki
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Ueda
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Tsuchida
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Takada
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Yamauchi
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Tsunematsu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003241:Consanguinity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007376:Interleukin-2