INVITRO IMMUNOGLOBULIN-SYNTHESIS BY LYMPHOCYTES FROM PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS .1. EFFECT OF MONOCYTE DEPLETION AND DEMONSTRATION OF AN INCREASED PROPORTION OF LYMPHOCYTES FORMING ROSETTES WITH MOUSE ERYTHROCYTES

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 52  (3) , 505-511
Abstract
B cell function was investigated in 9 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compared to sex and age matched controls in a pokeweed mitogen driven system. Levels of IgG and IgM synthesized in the supernatant were measured by a competition ELISA [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay]. Cultured mononuclear cells from RA patients showed a defective Ig synthesis when depleted of monocytes; RA mononuclear cells not depleted of monocytes produced substantial levels of Ig after stimulation by the mitogen. The percentages of T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of RA patient were normal; an increased number of lymphocytes formed rosettes with mouse erythrocytes indicating an abnormality in the B cell pool. Defective in vitro Ig synthesis by RA lymphocytes and the importance of monocytes in this culture system were demonstrated.