title: Impaired mitogen-induced interferon-gamma production in rheumatoid arthritis and related diseases.
abstract: Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), Reiter's disease, osteoarthritis, and from healthy volunteers were investigated for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production after mitogen activation. Phytohaemagglutinin stimulation revealed an impaired IFN-gamma production in RA, SLE, and PSS but normal levels in Reiter's disease and osteoarthritis. In RA this deficiency was also seen after pokeweed mitogen, OKT3, and concanavalin A activation. No major differences were found in interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and cell proliferation. The IL-2 receptor expression was reduced on stimulated RA lymphocytes. The deficient IFN-gamma production was compensated in RA by co-stimulation of PHA or OKT3 with phorbol myristic acetate (PMA). In addition, the combination of the calcium ionophore A 23187 and PMA induced a strong IFN-gamma secretion in all patient groups and in the controls.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D000001:Calcimycin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate