title: Clinical and immunological characterization of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with circulating interferon and migration inhibitory factor.
abstract: The simultaneous occurrence of interferon and migration inhibitory factor was found in sera from 9 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Their clinical picture was characterized by a moderate course of the disease. In 7 patients the inflammatory tendoarticular manifestations were accentuated. Glomerulonephritis was found only in 3 patients and was successfully suppressed by immunosuppressive therapy. In the peripheral blood of most of these patients, normal or moderately increased levels of active E-rosettes were found. Therefore we consider these SLE patients as a group with characteristic signs of activated cell-mediated immunity (lymphokine release, active E-rosettes). Although the reason for this activation remains unknown, we suppose that some concomitant bacterial infection, perhaps mycobacterial, may contribute to this immunological phenomenon.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000097:blood*; D007961:Leukocyte Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012397:Rosette Formation
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D007961:Leukocyte Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D007372:Interferons