INTERLEUKIN-2 REVERSES DEFICIENT CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNE-RESPONSES IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

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  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (1) , 123-129
Abstract
The depressed cell-mediated immunity in rheumatoid arthritis was investigated in vivo by cutaneous hypersensitivity responses to 7 antigens including tuberculin PPD [purified protein derivative], and in vitro by lymphocyte transformation to the latter antigen. In vivo 40% of rheumatoid patients were anergic compared to 2% of controls (P < 0.001) with an associated reduction in sum score (5.9 .+-. 6.5 vs. 15.3 .+-. 8.7, P < 0.001). In vitro lymphocyte proliferation to PPD was also significantly depressed (P < 0.001) and could not be reversed by indomethacin. A significant correlation between the in vivo sum scored (induration in mm) and in vitro thymidine incorporation (d/min) (r = 0.59, P < 0.001) was found. In an attempt to overcome the depressed in vitro response the addition of a crude supernatant from a mixed lymphocyte reaction was found to return the PPD stimulated lymphocyte proliferation to the normal range. This effect was mimicked by purified IL-2 [interleukin 2] but not purified IL-1 [interleukin 1]. The implications of this finding are discussed.