Rheumatoid arthritis and its association with HLA-DR antigens. I. Cell mediated immune response against connective tissue antigens.
HLA-DR antigens and cellular sensitivity to native bovine type I and type II collagen and proteoglycans were examined in patients with classic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and normal individuals. Fifty eight percent of patients with RA (n = 88) and 28% of normals (n = 52) were DR4+ (pc less than 0.01). DR4 phenotype was significantly increased in patients with severe disease stages (III-IV), as defined by the ARA criteria, in contrast to those showing mild disease stages (I-II) (p less than 0.05). Furthermore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 55 patients and 30 controls were evaluated for the in vitro production of leukocyte inhibitory factor in response to native type I and type II collagen and proteoglycans. By using this assay, cells from the arthritic group exhibited a statistically significant response when stimulated with native type I collagen and proteoglycans. The cellular immune response was not associated with any particular HLA-DR antigens, or to the disease stage or severity.
D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000276:immunology; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000032:analysis; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
D000941:Antigens; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007519:Isoantigens; D008222:Lymphokines; C010598:leukocyte inhibitory factor; D003094:Collagen; D013936:Thymidine