Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0409974 (lupus)
 22,386 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Different characteristics of peritoneal macrophages have been studied, to assess the role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of MRL-lpr/lpr mice which develop a lupus-like syndrome. Resident peritoneal macrophages from MRL-lpr/lpr mice (greater than 10 weeks old) displayed characteristics of activation, while thioglycollate-elicited or resident macrophages from normal mice (Balb/c or MRL-+/+) did not. In addition to Ia antigens, macrophages spontaneously expressed Interleukin-2 receptors (IL2-R) whereas resident macrophages from normal mice did not. Injection of recombinant human Interleukin-2 (rHu-IL2) by the i.p. route to normal mice did not modify the cellular composition of the resident peritoneal population. On the contrary, rHu-IL2 treatment of MRL-lpr/lpr mice induced an enhancement in cell number in the peritoneal cavity. At the same time, macrophages harvested from treated MRL-lpr/lpr mice showed enhanced chemiluminescence triggered by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) whereas peritoneal macrophages from treated normal mice did not. These results indicate that MRL-lpr/lpr peritoneal macrophages display features of selective 'activation' and suggest that the expression of IL2-R could be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders seen in MRL-lpr/lpr autoimmunity.
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PMID:Effect of in vivo injection of recombinant human interleukin-2 on peritoneal macrophages from MRL-lpr/lpr mice. 307 62

Attempts to detect immune mediators in RA synovial fluids by bioassay or radioimmunoassay have yielded conflicting results, and so we have begun to analyse the complex immunological reactions occurring within the rheumatoid joint using recombinant DNA technology. High levels of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-2 receptor transcripts were found in the mononuclear cells of the rheumatoid lesions. Interferon gamma (IFN gamma) mRNA was also detected, although at lower level than IL-2. To investigate the possible relevance of IL-2 and IL-2 receptor mRNA expression to the chronicity of the disease, RA joint cells were cultured in the absence of any stimulus, and the duration of mRNA expression compared to that of blood mononuclear cells (PBM), optimally stimulated. IL-2 mRNA was found to persist in culture for many days, in contrast to its transient (less than 24 h) presence in stimulated PBM. IL-2 receptor expression was also prolonged. In contrast IFN gamma mRNA, present at biopsy in 10/12 RA samples, was found to increase significantly in vitro. These results suggest that persistent T cell activation is of importance in the pathogenesis of RA, and suggests that prolonged mediator production (IL-2 and IFN gamma) may be of importance. The elevation of IFN gamma mRNA in culture and its lower relative expression suggests that there are inhibitory immunoregulatory influences within the RA joint. To determine whether abnormal IL-2 mRNA expression may be due to a genetic defect in the region controlling IL-2 gene expression, Southern blotting analysis of genomic DNA was performed with a 5' flanking probe using normal, RA and systemic lupus erythematosis patients. No abnormalities were detected.
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PMID:Detection of activated T cell products in the rheumatoid joint using cDNA probes to Interleukin-2 (IL-2) IL-2 receptor and IFN-gamma. 312 92

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by cells from children with various forms of arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and cystic fibrosis was compared. In all cases more IL-2 was detectable at 24 than at 48 h and production was increased by addition of indomethacin. Cultures from children with either active lupus or the pneumonia of cystic fibrosis produced very little IL-2, but cultures from children with arthritis produced apparently normal amounts. We conclude that depressed production of IL-2 in juvenile arthritis may be a secondary epiphenomenon and not a primary immunologic deficit.
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PMID:Interleukin-2 production by lymphocytes from blood of children with arthritis is less suppressed than in systemic lupus or cystic fibrosis. 349 11

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) deficiency is a common feature of autoimmune disease in several inbred strains of mice genetically predisposed to a lupus-like illness, including four (MRL, C57Bl/6, AKR/J, and C3H/He) bearing the lpr gene. Defective production of IL-2 in response to concanavalin A can occur even when the proliferative response to mitogens is preserved. In C56Bl/6-lpr mice there is no apparent influence of the lpr gene and IL-2 deficiency on the induction of the experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis that follows immunization with the acetylcholine receptor. The production of IL-2 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with PHA is decreased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
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PMID:Interleukin-2 and autoimmune disease. 640 37