In a serum-free culture containing no zinc, zinc enhanced the proliferation of T cells in response to interleukin 2 (IL-2), and also the in vitro production of IL-2 by T cells. Although the lymphocyte proliferation was partially inhibited by anti-IL-2 antibodies, it was completely inhibited by anti-IL-2 receptor (CD25) antibodies. A Scatchard plot analysis showed that zinc induced the expression of high-affinity receptors for IL-2 on lymphocytes. The results indicated that zinc may be essentially required for IL-2-mediated T-cell activation.
We studied the therapeutic effect of interferon-alpha on the xerostomia of Sjögren's syndrome by injecting 1 x 10(6) units of interferon-alpha intramuscularly once weekly. Saliva production was quantitated by the Saxon test. Variation of saliva production measured at monthly intervals during the 3-month period prior to administration of interferon-alpha was within +/- 0.30 g/2 min. After administration of interferon-alpha, saliva production increased to greater than 0.30 g/2 min in six patients, and the increase was statistically significant by the paired t-test (P = 0.002). The result suggests a beneficial effect of this agent in increasing the saliva production of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
SUMMARY Immunohistochemical study showed selective localisation of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) to the synovial lining layer. Although the synovial lining layer of the rheumatoid, osteoarthritic, and traumatic joints was hEGF positive, hEGF staining was especially dense at the rheumatoid synovial lining layer; the staining increasing linearly according to the degree of stratification of the lining layer (r=1). Human epidermal growth factor was ultrastructurally localised to cytoplasm, especially to rough endoplasmic reticulum, of the synovial lining fibroblast-like (type B) cell. Only the cell surface of macrophage-like (type A) cells was hEGF positive. When different histological variables were compared with each other a positive correlation was found between hEGF staining of the synovial lining layer and the degree of neovascularisation of rheumatoid synovium (r=0.72). Although some lymphocytes were weakly hEGF positive, neovascularisation did not correlate with the extent of lymphocyte infiltration or of hEGF staining of lymphocytes. Lymphocyte infiltration or hEGF staining of lymphocytes did not correlate with hEGF staining of the synovial lining layer, whereas the lymphocyte infiltration correlated positively with the extent of perivascular accumulation of lymphocytes (r=0-89). These findings suggest that (a) hEGF is synthesised by and secreted through endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus from the synovial lining type B cell; (b) hEGF is at least partially responsible for the pathogenesis of stratification of the rheumatoid synovial lining layer, and perhaps of neovascularisation of the rheumatoid synovium, whereas it is not responsible for lymphocyte accumulation to the rheumatoid synovium.Stratification of the synovial lining layer1 2 and periarticular osteoporosis3 4 are both early, characteristic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis, but few detailed studies have been carried out to elucidate their pathogenesis. In particular, information about the factor(s) responsible for the stratification of the synovial lining layer is not available. In this study we have focused on human epidermal growth factor (hEGF), which is a 53 amino acid polypeptide essential for cell growth in a variety of tissue. It stimulates bone resorption in neonatal mouse calvaria in vitro,6 and specific receptors
Circulating alpha-interferon in plasma of 26 patients with Sjögren's syndrome was 0.069 +/- 0.034 ng/ml, a significant decrease compared with 0.119 +/- 0.051 ng/ml for age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (P less than 0.01) and compared with values previously found for healthy donors at ages 1-89 years. The results indicate the inability of Sjögren's syndrome patients to maintain circulating alpha-interferon.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.