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The partial amino acid sequence of the NH2 terminus of a factor named human B-cell differentiation factor or B-cell stimulatory factor 2 (BSF-2) has been determined. Antibodies raised against the synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 1-13 of the NH2-terminal sequence specifically react with BSF-2 generated by a T-cell line and by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated normal T cells. Furthermore, the antipeptide antibodies react with a BSF-2-1ike factor produced by cardiac myxoma as well as uterine cervical carcinoma cells. The results show that BSF-2 functions in vivo as well and suggest that the constitutive production of BSF-2 may be involved in autoantibody production, since patients with cardiac myxoma and uterine carcinoma showed autoantibody production.

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Objectives: To assess the effects of tocilizumab on pregnancy outcomes in Japanese patients with rheumatic disease. Methods: Data from Chugai’s tocilizumab safety database (April 2005 to October 2014) were retrospectively analyzed to identify pregnancy outcomes in patients exposed to tocilizumab. Results: Data were available for 61 pregnancies exposed to tocilizumab, and outcomes were reported for 50 of those pregnancies. In 36 births, no congenital anomalies were identified; however, six neonatal abnormalities were reported: five cases of low birth weight (<2500 g) and one case of neonatal asphyxia. Of 36 births, tocilizumab was resumed during lactation in two patients, with no subsequent adverse events reported in newborns. The spontaneous abortion rate was 18.0% (9 of 50 pregnancies), which is comparable to the rate in the general population. The five terminated pregnancies included one case of caudal regression syndrome. Conclusions: The present retrospective study of 61 pregnancies exposed to tocilizumab at conception indicated no increased rates of spontaneous abortion or congenital abnormalities in patients with rheumatic disease. However, further study is necessary to confirm the benefit-risk profile of tocilizumab treatment during pregnancy.

To determine the association of HLA antigens with SLE and the clinical findings of the disease, HLA antigens were tested in 58 Japanese patients with SLE, who fulfilled the ARA diagnostic criteria, along with 97 normal controls. HLA class I and II antigens were typed serologically using the antisera provided by the 11th HLA Workshop. Among the HLA class II antigens, further DRB, DQ and DP alleles were defined by DNA typing using the PCR/SSOP method. There were significantly more SLE patients with HLA-B39, DRB1*1501, DRB5*0101 and DQB1*0602 than normal controls. This result suggested that the haplotype of HLA-DRB1*1501-DRB5*0101-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 consists of the SLE-associated MHC markers in Japan. There were some positive and negative associations between the HLA antigens and clinical or serological findings in SLE. There is a possibility that some HLA alleles might be related to the clinical and/or serological subsets of SLE.

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III.