Cellular immunity in patients with systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
We studied the cellular immune responses in 10 patients with systemic form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The numbers of peripheral T lymphocytes and their helper/inducer and cytotoxic/suppressor subpopulation were within normal levels. Activated T lymphocytes (DR+) were slightly increased but not at statistically significant levels. In contrast to the T cells, B lymphocytes were increased; both the percentage of B cells (B1+) and the number of cells spontaneously secreting IgG, IgA, and IgM were increased. Stimulation of peripheral mononuclear cells in vitro with pokeweed mitogen induced poor plaque-forming cell responses, which were partially improved upon removal of monocytes. The presence of concanavalin A in the cultures led to complete suppression. We conclude that patients with systemic JRA are characterized primarily by B-cell rather than T-cell abnormalities.
D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A