FAMILIAL ABNORMALITIES OF LYMPHOCYTE FUNCTION IN A LARGE SJOGRENS-SYNDROME KINDRED

  • 1 April 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 13  (2) , 320-326
Abstract
A large kindred (32 members), whose proband had primary Sjogren''s syndrome, was investigated to ascertain whether abnormalities of lymphocyte function were present in family members of patients with Sjogren''s syndrome. Ten members of the kindred with autoimmune disease, 17 blood relatives, 5 spouses, and 32 matched controls were studied. Concanavalin A induced suppression of pokeweed mitogen stimulated immunoglobulin synthesis was decreased in patients and blood relatives both with and without autoimmune diseases. Elevations of the mean T4/T8 ratio, due to decreased numbers of suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes, were present in both the disease group and the blood relatives. These abnormalities occurred independently of HLA and were not necessarily associated with antibodies.