Deficient γ‐interferon production in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

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Abstract
We examined the ability of peripheral mononuclear cells (MNC) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to produce γ-interferon (γ-IFN) in vitro. MNC from patients with SLE produced varying amounts of γ-IFN upon mitogenic stimulation. However, they produced distinctly decreased amounts of γ-IFN upon in vitro stimulation with interleukin-2 (IL-2). Deficient production seemed to be primary, rather than secondary to either excessive monocytic suppresion or failure of IL-2 to bind to the MNC surface membranes. γ-IFN-specific RNA transcription, as determined by slot-blot analysis, was severely decreased in MNC that had been stimulated with phytohemag-glutinin or IL-2. These findings suggest that MNC of patients with SLE have defects in the IL-2 signal transduction which is required for production of γ-IFN.

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