Marker and functional characterization of immunoregulatory cells in rheumatoid arthritis.
In 34 patients with rheumatoid arthritis we determined the regulatory index OKT 4: OKT 8 and the suppressor index delta 24: delta 0. There is no correlation between the results of the detection of subpopulations with monoclonal antibodies and of the functional test to determine the suppressor activity. The enhanced mitogen-induced proliferation after 24-h preincubation is regularly associated with a rise in the regulatory index; however, without convincing quantitative correlation. It can be concluded, that only a small portion of the cell population identified by monoclonal antibodies OKT 4 and OKT 8 exerts helper or suppressor activities. At present, identification of regulatory T-cell subpopulation should be complemented by functional tests.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal