Cytokine production in whole blood cell cultures of patients with rheumatoid arthritis - PubMed (original) (raw)
Cytokine production in whole blood cell cultures of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
A J Swaak et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 1997 Nov.
Abstract
Objective: The measurement of cytokine production of activated lymphocytes and monocytes in the whole blood cell (WBC) culture system may provide a sensitive tool for evaluating the actual ongoing immune response of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) up to 250 pg/ml was used for the stimulation of monocytes for measuring the production of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin 6 (IL6) and IL12, while the anti-CD3 (1 microgram/ml) and anti-CD28 (5 micrograms/ml) combination was used for T cell stimulation with the measuring of IL4 and interferon gamma (INF gamma) production. Twenty seven patients with RA and 23 healthy controls were studied.
Results: The results showed a decreased IL6 (LPS stimulus 4-6 pg/ml) and IL-12 (LPS stimulus 16-62 pg/ml) production in the RA patients. The maximal production of both cytokines was comparable with the normal controls. T cell stimulation showed a significant decreased INF gamma production in the RA patients.
Conclusions: These findings obtained in the WBC culture system are highly suggestive for a decreased TH-1 derived cytokine production by a diminished IL12 production in RA patients. Another possibility is that both IL12 and INF gamma production in WBCs are inhibited by eventual circulating serum factors.
Figures
Figure 1
Cytokine production measured in WBC cultures of patients with RA stimulated with anti-CD3 combined with anti-CD28.
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