title: High-affinity interleukin-2 receptors on blood lymphocytes are decreased during active rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The expression of receptors for interleukin-2 (IL-2R) was examined in patients with active or inactive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in control subjects. Unstimulated blood lymphocytes from patients with active RA had increased levels of total IL-2R, as measured by Tac-positive cells, compared with the levels found in the other 2 groups. Mitogen-stimulated cells from patients with active RA expressed less IL-2R per cell, but the most striking feature was the failure to express high-affinity IL-2R. These changes could reflect persistent antigenic stimulation and explain the defective cell-mediated immunity in RA patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2