Interleukin-2 and autoimmune disease.
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) deficiency is a common feature of autoimmune disease in several inbred strains of mice genetically predisposed to a lupus-like illness, including four (MRL, C57Bl/6, AKR/J, and C3H/He) bearing the lpr gene. Defective production of IL-2 in response to concanavalin A can occur even when the proliferative response to mitogens is preserved. In C56Bl/6-lpr mice there is no apparent influence of the lpr gene and IL-2 deficiency on the induction of the experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis that follows immunization with the acetylcholine receptor. The production of IL-2 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with PHA is decreased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013997:Time Factors
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic