title: Analysis of the antigen specific helper T cell function and HLA-DR of Israeli patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
abstract: Forty-three patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were studied for their ability to respond to the synthetic polypeptide antigen (T, G)-A-L as measured by the production of a T cell helper factor by their antigen activated T cells. Sixteen patients (37%) responded to (T, G)-A-L by the production of an antigen specific helper T cell factor, a percentage not significantly different from healthy donors. The production of antigen specific T cell helper factors was affected, although not significantly, by immune modulating drugs and by the presence of rheumatoid factor in sera of patients. The high incidence of HLA-DR 4 reported for RA patients was not observed in this group of RA patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007557:Israel; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007375:Interleukin-1; D010455:Peptides; C021759:(T,G)-A-L