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    IMMUNE REACTIVITY IN PALINDROMIC RHEUMATISM - RESPONSE TO MITOGENS

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    Lymphocyte responsiveness to various mitogens was studied in patients with palindromic rheumatism. The results show an enhanced lymphocyte reactivity to T-dependent mitogens during the first few days after an acute attack of the disease

    ACTIVATION OF MURINE AUTOREACTIVE B-CELLS BY INTERLEUKIN 1-LIKE FACTORS RELEASED FROM SYNOVIAL INFLAMMATORY CELLS OF RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

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    The effect of interleukin 1 (IL-1)-like factor(s), produced by cells isolated from the synovial fluids of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, on an in vitro murine model of spontaneous autoimmunity, i.e., the development of plaque-forming cells (PFC) to bromelain-treated mouse red blood cells (Br-MRBC) in mouse peritoneal cell (PC) cultures, has been investigated. It has been found that IL-1-containing culture supernatants from cells isolated from joint fluids of RA patients, as well as recombinant IL-1, determine a marked increase in anti-Br-MRBC PFC development. Moreover, factor(s) of 10-20 KD molecular weight, with IL-1-like biological activity, capable of increasing the anti-Br-MRBC PFC development in mouse PC cultures, have been demonstrated in joint fluids from RA patients. The finding that synovial inflammatory cells produce factors that activate autoreactive B cells further supports the role of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, as self-perpetuing disorder

    POLYCLONAL B-CELL ACTIVATION IN ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS

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    The peripheral blood lymphocyte response of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) to several polyclonal B cell activators was investigated. No differences were found in the reactivity to pokeweed mitogen and protein A between patients and controls; in contrast, the peripheral blood lymphocyte response to Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I (SAC) was significantly higher in patients with AS than in controls. This responsiveness was not influenced either by the presence of the HLA-B27 antigen or by environmental factors or associated diseases, and it was higher in patients with active AS than in those with inactive disease. The percentage of circulating B cells was normal. The responses to T cell mitogens and the percentages of T cell subpopulations were similar in patients and in controls. The peripheral blood lymphocyte hyperactivity of patients with AS to SAC was associated with an increased in vitro production of immunoglobulins
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