Excessive production of interleukin 6/B cell stimulatory factor-2 in rheumatoid arthritis.

Journal article

High levels of interleukin 6 (IL 6/B cell stimulatory factor-2) were detected in synovial fluids from the joints of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The cells found in freshly isolated synovial fluid constitutively expressed IL 6 mRNA. The synovial tissues obtained by joint biopsy were also found to produce IL 6 in vitro. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that CD2+ T cells as well as CD20+ blastoid B cells in the synovial tissues produce IL 6. The data indicate that IL 6 is generated constitutively in RA and its overproduction may explain the local as well as the generalized symptoms of RA, since IL 6 can function as B cell growth and differentiation factor as well as hepatocyte-stimulating factor.

Authors: Hirano, T; Matsuda, T; Turner, M; Miyasaka, N; Buchan, G

• Journal: European journal of immunology
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 1797-1801
• Publication date: 1988-11-01
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830181122
• EISSN: 1521-4141
• ISSN: 0014-2980
• Language: English
• Keywords: RNA, Messenger; Receptors, Immunologic; Interleukin-6; Humans; Synovial Fluid; Synovial Membrane; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; Antigens, CD20; Interleukins; Antigens, CD2; Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; Arthritis, Rheumatoid