title: Immunoglobulin subclass distribution of synovial plasma cells in rheumatoid arthritis determined by use of monoclonal anti-subclass antibodies.
abstract: The distribution of IgG and IgA subclass plasma cells among dissociated synovial cells from 14 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovia was examined by immunofluorescence using mouse monoclonal anti-human subclass antibodies. Of the IgG plasma cells 81 +/- 9% were IgG1, 4 +/- 2% IgG2, 14 +/- 9% IgG3, and 0.9 +/- 0.6% IgG4. While IgG1 predominated in all 14 synovia (which is similar to what is seen in normal tissues), in 5/14 20% or greater of IgG plasma cells were IgG3, suggesting a selective increase in IgG3 production in the synovia of certain RA patients. Among IgA plasma cells 89 +/- 5% were IgA1 and 8 +/- 3% were IgA2. This distribution is similar to the distribution in normal serum.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000145:classification; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000145:classification; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000145:classification*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007136:Immunoglobulins