title: Interleukin-2 secretion by synovial fluid lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor bearing cells and soluble IL-2, measured in a bioassay with IL-2 dependent human T-cell blasts, were recognized in synovial fluid, but not in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). After stimulation in vitro with appropriate concentrations of the mitogen concanavalin A (Con-A), comparable proportions of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) bearing cells were seen in cultures of synovial fluid lymphocytes (SFL) and in cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). On the other hand, higher levels of secreted IL-2 were found in SFL cultures compared to corresponding PBL cultures of RA patients and normal donors. Specificity of the IL-2 bioassay was confirmed by blocking the T-cell blast proliferation (induced by SFL culture supernatants), by 83 +/- 4%, after addition of a monoclonal anti-IL-2R antibody. Despite the high levels of soluble IL-2, only a weak proliferative response was observed in the corresponding SFL cultures.
authors.affiliation: Kath, Krankenhaus of Essen-Werden, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, FRG.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruschen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lemm
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Warnatz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A