The relative proportions of secreted interleukin-2 and interleukin-10 determine the magnitude of rheumatoid arthritis T-cell proliferation to the recall antigen tuberculin purified protein derivative.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mechanisms of the deficient proliferative responses by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) peripheral blood T cells to the recall antigen tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD).


METHODS
The concomitant production of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10 and lymphocyte proliferation were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and [(3)H]thymidine uptake, respectively, in 12 normal controls and eight RA patients.


RESULTS
An inverse correlation was found between IL-10 production and proliferation to PPD. The proliferative response was shown to be critically affected by the IL-2:IL-10 ratio so that absolute levels of secreted IL-2 or IL-10 correlated non-significantly with lymphocyte proliferation.


CONCLUSIONS
The deficient T-cell proliferation in RA peripheral blood mononuclear cells is related to the relative proportions of IL-2:IL-10 rather than the absolute amounts secreted.
Corrigall
V M
VM
Department of Rheumatology, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, King's College, Guy's Campus, London SE1 9RT, UK.
Garyfallos
A
A
Panayi
G S
GS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology
D007376:Interleukin-2; D014373:Tuberculin; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015759:Ionomycin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate