title: Defective suppressor cell activity in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia.
abstract: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia were investigated for the ability to induce suppressor cell activity (S.C.A.) following in vitro exposure to Concanavalin A (Con A). The generation of Con A-S.C.A. is significantly impaired in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia compared to the healthy controls. No correlation was found between Con A-S.C.A. and the clinical or laboratory parameters of the disease. This impaired ability to induce Con A-S.C.A. in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia reflects a functional T-cell defect, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D003208:Concanavalin A