T cell functions by concanavalin A-induced suppressor T cell function test and autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in various autoimmune diseases

Abstract

In order to clarify the role of cell mediated immunity in autoimmune diseases concanavalin A-induced suppressor T cell function (Con A-Ts) was investigated by the Shou's method and autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) which is induced between T and non T cells, Tγ and non T cells, and non Tγ and non T cells. The patients studied included 26 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 27 of Sjogren's syndrome (SJS), 10 of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), 17 of polymyositis (PM) and together with 20 of healthy volunteers as control group.Both Con A-Ts and AMLR between Tγ and non T cells in the patients with SLE were significantly decreased than those in the control group. The study on lymphocytes from the patients with SLE during both active and inactive phase of this disease revealed that the patients with active SLE showed the defects in Con A-Ts and in the ability of both T and Tγ cells to respond in AMLR. The patients with inactive SLE, however, exhibited inresponsiveness of Tγ cells alone. But Con A-Ts tended to be increased in inactive SLE than in active SLE. So far as the SJS was concerned, both sicca alone and sicca complex exhibited the decreased Con A-Ts and AMLR between Tγ and non T cells. Moreover, the significant correlations of Con A-Ts to AMLR between Tγ and non T cells were found in SLE (r=0.51, p<0.05), and in SJS (r=0.61, p<0.02). On the contrary, in PSS and PM, AMLR remained within normal range in spite of a decrease in Con A-Ts.These results might suggest that the similar defects of cellular immunity exist in SLE and SJS.