A cellular deficiency in the rheumatoid one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction.
Activated lymphocytes expressing transferrin receptors (TFR) are present in the peripheral blood in rheumatoid arthritis. Characterization of these cells shows a CD4 dominance with depressed expression of CD8 and NK antigens, similar to synovial infiltrates. In the present study, one-way mixed lymphocyte reactions were performed to compare the response of rheumatoid patients with that of normal individuals. The TFR+ cells generated were characterized by double-label immunofluorescence. The TFR+ cells from rheumatoid responders showed elevated CD4+ cells and depressed CD8 and Leu-7 (NK) expression compared with normal, throughout the response. This defect was corrected by adding recombinant interleukin 2 at the beginning of the culture period. CD8+ cells stimulated to express TFR following interleukin 2 supplementation of the rheumatoid responses co-expressed HLA-DR. Functional studies indicated that TFR+ CD8+ cells were not cytotoxic, indirectly suggesting them to be suppressor cells. These findings indicate that significant immunoregulatory abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis may reflect abnormal interleukin 2 biology.
Salmon
M
M
Department of Rheumatology, University of Birmingham, UK.
Bacon
P A
PA
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008875:Middle Aged; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin