Phenotypic and Functional Features of CD5+ B Lymphocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Abstract
Using flow cytometry B lymphocytes expressing CDS were increased in the blood of 15 out of 31 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In contrast to the monoclonal CDS+B lymphocytes in patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukacmia, CD5+B cells from RA patients and neonatal cord blood are polyclonal as demonstrated by κ/λ expression. These B cells co-express P and 6 heavy chains and are CD19, CD20, CD21 positive. Purified CDS+ and CDS- B cells appeared of similar size and granularity as judged by light scatter values. Staphylococcus aureus C stimulated cord blood B cells showed loss of CDS antigen following activation and production of similar amounts of IgM- rheumatoid factor (RQ. EBV stimulation of purified RA B subsets lead to greater production of IgM-RF by CDS + B cells than by CDS-B cells suggesting an enrichment of precursor cells in this fraction.