title: Stimulation of whole blood cultures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis by a mitogen derived from Mycoplasma arthritidis (MAS) and other mitogens.
abstract: In this study we compared cytokine production and cell proliferation of immunocompetent cells derived from patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) to those from healthy blood donors using a whole blood assay. To this end, blood cell cultures were stimulated with the superantigens MAS (Mycoplasma arthritidis supernatant) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and the plant lectins phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A). The number of white blood cells (WBC) and lymphocyte subsets were also determined. Cell proliferation and levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured after stimulation with the different mitogens. An ELISA test was used to analyse supernatant cytokine levels. Individuals with AS showed significantly lower IFN-gamma concentrations and markedly lower cell proliferation rates with all tested mitogens than healthy controls, while there was no significant difference in IL-6 synthesis. IL-1 beta levels were slightly impaired in the patient group, but only blood cell cultures stimulates with MAS showed a statistical significance. Furthermore, there was a significant elevation of leucocytes and lymphocytes in patients with AS resulting in higher numbers of CD4-positive cells, which implies a higher CD4:CD8 cell ratio. CD19- and CD8-positive cells were not significantly distinct compared to healthy controls. This deviation in cytokine levels and cell proliferation points to a suppression of T lymphocytes. A disturbed T-lymphocyte function may play a part in the pathogenesis of AS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Lübeck Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neustock
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Ossorio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schnabel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirchner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000941:Antigens; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D016207:Cytokines; D008934:Mitogens; C052996:Mycoplasma arthritidis mitogen; D011506:Proteins; D018089:Superantigens