病毒性心肌炎可溶性白细胞介素2受体、自然杀伤细胞活性及T细胞亚群的检测

应用单克隆与多克隆双抗体夹心法检测３６例病毒性心肌炎（ＶＭＣ）及２４例正常人（ＮＣ）的血清可溶性白细胞介素２受体（ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ），同时测定外周血自然杀伤细胞（ＮＫＣ）活性和Ｔ淋巴细胞亚群。结果显示ＶＭＣ患者ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ明显高于ＮＣ组（Ｐ＜０．００１）．而ＮＫＣ活性明显低于ＮＣ组（Ｐ＜０．０１），Ｔ细胞亚群与ＮＣ组比较，急性ＶＭＣ患者总Ｔ细胞（ＣＤ３），辅助性Ｔ细胞（ＣＤ４）和抑制性Ｔ细胞（ＣＤ８）均减少，ＣＤ４／ＣＤ８比值显著降低（Ｐ＜０．０５．０．０１），以细胞免疫功能低下为明显；而ＶＭＣ后遗症期患者ＣＤ３、ＣＤ４与ＮＣ组无差异（Ｐ＞０．０５），ＣＤ８显著降低（Ｐ＜０．０５），ＣＤ４／ＣＤ８比值显著高于ＮＣ组（Ｐ＜０．０５），以细胞免疫调节失衡为主。上述结果提示细胞免疫功能低下及免疫功能失调为ＶＭＣ发病及影响预后的重要因素。     

老慢支患者T细胞亚群和sIL—2R的变化及意义

目的探讨老年慢性支气管炎（老慢支）患者外周血Ｔ细胞亚群和血清可溶性白细胞介素－２受体（ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ）的变化及意义。方法采用抗体致敏的红细胞花环法测定外周血Ｔ细胞亚群，用双抗体夹心法测定血清ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ。结果老慢支患者Ｔ细胞亚群ＣＤ４明显减少，ＣＤ８明显增多，ＣＤ４／ＣＤ８比值降低，与对照组比较均有显著性意义（Ｐ＜０．００１），而ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ水平较对照组显著增高（Ｐ＜０．００１），且与Ｔ细胞亚群ＣＤ４、ＣＤ４／ＣＤ８成负相关，与ＣＤ８成正相关，尤其以急性发作期改变最为显著。结论老慢支病程中出现某些不同程度的免疫调节紊乱，同时，本研究揭示Ｔ细胞亚群和ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ的改变可作为老慢支患者病情变化和预后判断的指标之一。     

冬虫夏草多糖脂质体对肝炎后肝硬化患者T细胞免疫调节作用的研究

应用脂质体包埋冬虫夏草多糖口服３个月治疗肝炎后肝硬化２８例，在治疗前、后第２、３个月分别检测外周血Ｔ细胞免疫功能指标和肝功能。结果：①ＰＨＣ患者外周血ＣＤ４细胞比例，ＣＤ４／ＣＤ８比值、自然杀伤细胞活性及经ＰＨＡ－Ｐ诱导的外周血淋巴细胞、膜白细胞介素２受体（ＭＩＬ－２Ｒ）的表达，白细胞介素２（ＩＬ－２）和＋γ－干扰素（ＴＦＮ－γ）的生成均显著低于正常对照（Ｐ值分别＜０．００１，＜０．０１，＜０．０     

结核病白细胞介素2受体测定和T细胞亚群分析的临床意义

采用间接酶联免疫吸附（ＥＬＩＳＡ）法检测了３９例浸润型肺结核患者的血清和尿液可溶性白细胞介素２受体（ＳＩＬ－２Ｒ）浓度，用单克隆抗体间接免疫荧光法检测了其Ｔ细胞亚群；并与２８例健康人作正常对照。结果显示：①结核病活动期组血清及尿液ＳＩＬ－２Ｒ浓度明显高于康复期组（Ｐ＜０．０５）和对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５），而结核病康复期组血清及尿液ＳＩＬ－２Ｒ浓度与对照组间差异无显著意义（Ｐ＞０．０５）。②结核病活动期组尿液与血清ＳＩＬ－２Ｒ浓度呈正相关（Ｐ＜０．０１）。③结核病活动期组ＣＤ＋４Ｔ细胞数及ＣＤ＋４／ＣＤ＋８Ｔ细胞比值明显低于康复期组和对照组（Ｐ均＜０．０１）。提示结核病活动期患者Ｔ细胞免疫应答能力降低，ＳＩＬ－２Ｒ浓度升高可作为结核病活动期指标之一。     

胸液癌胚抗原、可溶性白细胞介素－2受体浓度及核仁组成区嗜银染色计数对恶性胸液的诊断价值

本文对２４例恶性胸腔积液患者测定胸液的癌胚抗原（ＣＥＡ）、可溶性白细胞介素－２受体（ＳＩＬ－２Ｒ）浓度及核仁组成区嗜银染色（Ａｇ－ＮＯＲ）计数，并以２０例结核性胸膜炎患者做对照研究。结果表明：恶性胸液组ＣＥＡ为４７．３１±２１．３２μｇ／Ｌ，明显大于结核性胸液组（３．５８±３．０７μｇ／Ｌ）（Ｐ＜０．００１）。恶性胸液组Ａｇ－ＮＯＲ计数４．５８±１．１９个／细胞，明显大于结核性胸液组（１．５１±０．４０个／细胞）（Ｐ＜０．０１），而ｓＩＬ－２Ｒ结核组为１０６１．７８±４５５．３０ＫＵ／Ｌ，大于恶性胸液组（４４２．１９±２８３．７７ＫＵ／Ｌ），（Ｐ＜０．０１）。提示三项指标同时检测，综合分析有利于恶性胸液的诊断。     

消化系恶性肿瘤患者血清与腹水中细胞因子活性变化

目的研究消化系恶性肿瘤（ＤＭＴ）患者血清与腹水中内源性ＩＬ２,ＩＬ６,ＩＬ８,ＴＮＦα和ＩＦＮγ的生物学活性．方法应用ＥＬＩＳＡ法检测了１５例ＤＭＴ患者（肝癌１１例,胆总管癌１例,胰腺癌１例,胃癌１例,直肠癌１例）血清与腹水中５种细胞因子活性,并与６例肝硬变（ＬＣ）患者和８例正常成人进行了比较分析．结果ＤＭＴ患者血清ＩＬ２,ＩＬ６的生物学活性显著低于ＬＣ（Ｐ＜００５）;腹水中ＩＬ２,ＩＬ８活性显著低于ＬＣ组（Ｐ＜００１）,而ＩＬ６和ＩＦＮγ活性则高于ＬＣ组（Ｐ＜００１,００５）．ＤＭＴ患者血清中ＩＬ６,ＩＬ８活性明显高于正常成人组（Ｐ＜００５）;ＩＬ２,ＩＦＮγ则低于正常成人组,但缺乏显著性．肝癌血清和腹水中ＩＬ２活性显著高于非肝癌组（Ｐ＜００５）;而ＩＬ６活性则相对降低（Ｐ＜００５）．结论恶性肿瘤患者血清中ＩＬ２和ＩＦＮγ活性低于正常人,是ＤＭＴ患者抗肿瘤免疫功能缺陷的标志．ＩＬ６对于预测ＤＭＴ患者的预后具有重要的意义     

回生口服液对人IL-2水平及LAK细胞活性的影响

目的探讨回生口服液对人体ＩＬ２水平及ＬＡＫ细胞活性的影响．方法取健康献血者外周静脉血，分离出单个核细胞（ＰＢＭＣ），加入植物血凝素（ＰＨＡ），于９６孔微量培养板中，分别加入不同浓度的回生口服液，孵育２４ｈ，以ＣＴＬＬ２细胞作为检测细胞，用ＭＴＴ法测定ＩＬ２水平，同时设空白对照及阴性对照组；分离出的ＰＢＭＣ加入γＩＬ２，于２５ｍｌ培养瓶中共同孵育９６ｈ，制备ＬＡＫ细胞，然后将其与经不同浓度回生口服液处理后的ＳＭＭＣ７７２１，Ｈｅｌａ细胞株于９６孔微量培养板中共同孵育２０ｈ，用ＬＤＨ释放法测ＬＡＫ细胞活性，同时设空白对照．全部数据采用ｔ检验方法进行处理．结果回生口服液在浓度为１０ｍｇ／ｍｌ以上时能促进ＰＢＭＣ在ＰＨＡ作用下分泌ＩＬ２（Ｐ＜００１），在１ｍｇ／ｍｌ时即能拮抗１％（Ｐ＜００１）、５％（Ｐ＜００５）人血清ＩＬ２抑制物的作用，且都与药物浓度呈正相关，在高浓度（１００ｍｇ／ｍｌ）时还能增强ＬＡＫ细胞的活性（Ｐ＜００１）．结论回生口服液可提高人ＩＬ２水平，并增强ＬＡＫ细胞活性，以实现抗癌作用．     

过氧化氢在老化红细胞调节T淋巴细胞分泌机制中的作用

制备老化红细胞模型，测定老化红细胞的过氧化氢酶（ＣＡＴ）活力，利用丝裂原激活的小鼠脾细胞方法测定Ｔ淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２的分泌水平，并利用抗氧化剂进一步探讨。结果表明：０．５×１０－３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ、１×１０－３ｍｏｌ／ＬＨ２Ｏ２能明显降低老化红细胞的ＣＡＴ活力（Ｐ＜０．０１），丹酚酸Ｂ５μｇ、１５μｇ能明显提高老化红细胞的ＣＡＴ活力（Ｐ＜０．０１）。５×１０５／ｍｌ、１×１０６／ｍｌ、５×１０６／ｍｌ老化红细胞对Ｔ淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２的分泌水平有明显的提高作用。经过０．５×１０－３ｍｏｌ／ＬＨ２Ｏ２温育后的老化红细胞明显降低Ｔ淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２的分泌水平（Ｐ＜０．０１）；再经过丹酚酸Ｂ５μｇ温育后的老化红细胞明显提高Ｔ淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２的分泌水平（Ｐ＜０．０１）。由此说明Ｈ２Ｏ２可能介导老化红细胞调节Ｔ淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２的分泌活动。     

大豆低聚糖对高脂大鼠脂质过氧化的影响

大豆低聚糖对实验性大鼠高脂血症的防治研究结果证明：能降低血清总胆固醇（ＴＣ）（Ｐ＜０．０５），提高血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（ＨＤＬ－Ｃ）（Ｐ＜０．００１），提高ＨＤＬ－Ｃ／ＴＣ比值（Ｐ＜０．００１），降低血清甘油三酯（ＴＧ）水平（Ｐ＜０．００１）；降低心肌组织过氧化脂质（ＬＰＯ）水平（Ｐ＜０．０１），提高心肌组织超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）活性（Ｐ＜０．０１），有抑制脑组织过氧化损伤的趋势。结果提示：大豆低聚糖具有降低高脂大鼠血脂水平，拮抗过氧化损伤的作用。     

老年肺部感染患者白细胞介素2活性的变化

对５０例老年肺部感染患者白细胞介素２（ＩＬ－２）的活性进行了测定。结果表明：老年肺部感染患者ＩＬ－２活性（４．１±４．０Ｕ／ｍｌ）显著低于健康老年人（１３．０±１０．１Ｕ／ｍｌ）（Ｐ＜０．００１），亦明显低于非老年肺部感染患者（７．２±５．４Ｕ／ｍｌ）（Ｐ＜０．０５）。肺部急性感染患者当感染控制后ＩＬ－２活性显著回升（１１．１±７．５Ｕ／ｍｌ）（Ｐ＜０．００１）。此外，病程＞４年的老年肺结核患者ＩＬ－２活性（２．８±２．０Ｕ／ｍｌ）低于病程＜４年的患者（７．７±５．７Ｕ／ｍｌ）（Ｐ＜０．０５）；重症患者（２．９±２．８Ｕ／ｍｌ）低于轻症患者（８．５±５．４Ｕ／ｍｌ）（Ｐ＜０．０１）。提示肺部感染及肺结核的严重程度和病程均可影响老年患者的ＩＬ－２活性。ＩＬ－２可反映老年肺部感染患者的免疫状态。     

Detection of hyperreactive T cells in multiple myeloma by multivalent cross-linking of the CD3/TCR complex.

Cellular immunity was investigated in 43 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) by assessing 3HTdR uptake induced by monocyte-dependent [CD3 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), phytohemagglutinin (PHA)] and monocyte-independent (CD2 MoAbs, ionomycin + phorbolester) stimulations. The former were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) and purified T cells; the latter were evaluated in purified T-cell preparations only. MM showed significantly lower PBMNC responses to PHA (P less than .001), soluble OKT3 (CD3) (P = .01), and immobilized OKT3 MoAbs (P = .01). On purification of T cells, MM responses were still defective to soluble T11(2) + T11(3) (CD2) MoAbs (P = .004), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) plus ionomycin (P less than .001), but significantly higher to plastic-immobilized OKT3 (P = .004). In some MM, 3HTdR uptake, interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor (CD25) expression, and IL-2 production were as high on stimulation with plastic-immobilized OKT3 as that observed in normal subjects under optimal conditions (ie, plastic-immobilized OKT3 plus accessory signals). CD3 hyperreactivity correlated with the number of CD8+ HLA-DR+ cells in MM T-cell preparations. MM patients with more than 10% CD8+ HLA-DR+ cells had significantly higher responses to immobilized OKT3 (P less than .001), but lower responses to T11(2) plus T11(3) (P = .01), and PMA plus ionomycin (P = .03) than patients with less than 10% CD8+ HLA-DR+ cells. Phenotyping of CD45RA (naive) and CD45R0 (memory) expressions in resting MM T cells showed a lower ratio of CD45RA to CD45R0 in both CD4 (P less than .05) and CD8 (P less than .001) subpopulations. These data indicate that (a) some MM T cells require significantly fewer accessory signals (if any) to express the IL-2 receptor fully, secrete IL-2, and proliferate on multivalent cross-linking of the CD3/TCR complex; and (b) this peculiar state of activation is associated with high HLA-DR expression in CD8+ lymphocytes.     

Study of pulmonary T cell subsets and killer activity in lung cancer

Studies were performed to determine natural killer (NK) activity (ability to lyse 51Cr labeled K562 target cells) and T cell subsets (with OKT3, OKT4, or OKT8 antigen detected by indirect immunofluorescence technique) both in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and peripheral blood of 40 lung cancer patients with different pathological type and 39 healthy controls. Our results showed that the percentage of total T cell (T3) and T suppressor cells in BALF were elevated both in the tumour involved and healthy lungs of the patients when compared with those of the normal controls. NK activity levels in BALF of the uninvolved lung and the controls were low. However, NK activity at tumour sites and the adjacent airways were significantly higher. There was no difference of NK activity in peripheral blood between lung cancer patients and the controls. The results demonstrated immune assays for BALF are very important parameters to investigate the changes of immune surveillance of the lung cancer patients. The higher NK activity and the reduced T4/T8 ratio in the lung with cancer may play important roles in local immunity.     

Decreased level of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (OKT8+) in polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis: relation to disease activity

Separated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by fluorescent microscopy with monoclonal antisera for T cells (OKT3+), helper/inducer T cells (OKT4+) and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (OKT8+). Thirty-seven patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), 13 of whom had positive biopsies for arteritis, were studied and compared with 25 age and sex matched normal subjects. The percentages of OKT3+ and OKT4+ T cells were similar in the PMR group and controls, but percentage of OKT8+ T cells was significantly reduced in patients (14.8 +/- 6.8) compared with controls (22.1 +/- 6.3). Values of OKT8+ T cells were extremely low in untreated patients with active, acute disease (7.8 +/- 4.4%) and significantly lower than in prednisone treated patients with inactive disease (17.3 +/- 5.9). These findings indicate that low values of circulating OKT8+ T cells is a feature of PMR and is related to disease activity.     

Subpopulations of T lymphocytes in Kenyan patients with visceral leishmaniasis

Populations of peripheral blood T lymphocytes from patients with Kenyan visceral leishmaniasis were studied using specifically defined antisera (monoclonal antibodies, Ortho-mune OKT3, OKT4, OKT6, and OKT8). The levels of total T lymphocytes and circulating thymocytes were within the same range as those of clinically normal individuals. However, the proportions of the helper/inducer T cells were lower in untreated patients than in the controls (18.9% vs. 39.7%) while the levels of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells were higher than in the controls (40.5% vs. 27.8%). After successful antileishmania treatment these levels showed a gradual return towards normal over a period of one year. It was concluded that immunosuppression observed is due to the levels of peripheral blood helper/inducer and suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes.     

Characterization of immature T cell subpopulations in neonatal blood

A series of monoclonal antibodies directed against T cell differentiation antigens was used to identify circulating T cells in normal human neonates. Twenty-five cord blood samples, taken after cesarean or vaginal delivery, and 16 venous blood samples from normal adult controls were examined using monoclonal antibodies in an indirect immunofluorescence technique. The percentage of circulating OKT3 positive (pan-T cell) cells was significantly lower in the neonatal blood (52.8%) compared with the adult controls (74.9%) (P less than .001). Of the cord mononuclear cells, 58% showed reactivity with OKT10 (common thymocyte antigen) compared with only 7% in adult controls (P less than .001). The helper:suppressor T cell ratio was lower in cord blood (1:2) as compared with 1:3 for adult blood (P less than .005) as observed in these studies. These figures reflect the presence of a significant population (25%) of immature T cells in cord blood that expresses simultaneously both helper (OKT4) and suppressor (OKT8) phenotypes. Twenty-four percent of the T cells in cord blood also expressed OKT6 antigen (cortical thymocyte), a feature not found in adult blood. Double-labeling studies characterized a previously undescribed blood T cell phenotype, which was simultaneously OKT6 and OKT3 (pan-T cell) positive; of the cells reactive with OKT3, 43% also were positive with OKT6. This study reveals the presence of immature populations of T cells in normal human neonatal blood exhibiting phenotypes characteristic of normal developing thymocytes and a previously undescribed cell phenotype.     

Abnormalities of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in polymyalgia rheumatica

The T lymphocyte subsets were studied by monoclonal antibodies in the blood of eight patients with polymyalgia rheumatica. The percentages of circulating T cells (OKT3+) were lower when compared with normal controls (p less than 0.02), as were the proportions of suppressor/cytotoxic (OKT8+) T cells (p less than 0.001), whereas the proportions of helper/inducer (OKT4+) T lymphocytes were not changed. Consequently, the OKT4:OKT8 ratio was higher in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica than in controls (p less than 0.001). On the contrary, circulating B cells were not altered. The decrease in peripheral blood OKT3+ and OKT8+ lymphocyte subsets suggests that there is an impairment of cell-mediated immunity in polymyalgia rheumatica.     

Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subpopulations defined by monoclonal antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis: distribution in patients untreated and treated by oral gold therapy

The distribution of T lymphocyte subsets was determined in peripheral blood (PB) of two groups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis by using monoclonal antibodies (OKT). In untreated patients the percentage of OKT4+ cells (helper/inducer) was found to be significantly increased as compared to healthy controls. In patients receiving oral gold therapy a similar increase in OKT4+ cells was confirmed; furthermore, these patients showed a significant decrease in OKT8+ cell population (cytotoxic/suppressor) compared to untreated patients and to normal controls. A small numerical superimposition of values of OKT4+ and OKT8+ lymphocytes was observed in untreated but not in treated patients.     

Interleukin-2 production and response to interleukin-2 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients after bone marrow transplantation: II. Patients receiving soybean lectin-separated and T cell-depleted bone marrow

The ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to produce and respond to interleukin-2 (IL-2) was evaluated in 50 recipients of HLA- identical bone marrow (BM) depleted of mature T cells by soybean agglutination and E rosetting (SBA-E-BM). In contrast to our previous findings in recipients of unfractionated marrow, during weeks 3 to 7 post-SBA-E-BM transplantation (BMT), PBMC from the majority of patients spontaneously released IL-2 into the culture medium. This IL-2 was not produced by Leu-11+ natural killer cells, which were found to be predominant in the circulation at this time, but by T11+, T3+, Ia antigen-bearing T cells. The IL-2 production could be enhanced by coculture with host PBMC frozen before transplant but not by stimulation with mitogenic amounts of OKT3 antibody, thus suggesting an in vivo activation of donor T cells or their precursors by host tissue. Spontaneous IL-2 production was inversely proportional to the number of circulating peripheral blood lymphocytes and ceased after 7 to 8 weeks post-SBA-E-BMT in most of the patients. In patients whose cells had ceased to produce IL-2 spontaneously or never produced this cytokine, neither coculture with host cells nor stimulation with OKT3 antibody thereafter induced IL-2 release through the first year posttransplant. Proliferative responses to exogenous IL-2 after stimulation with OKT3 antibody remained abnormal for up to 6 months post-SBA-E-BMT, unlike the responses of PBMC from recipients of conventional BM, which responded normally by 1 month post-BMT. However, the upregulation of IL- 2 receptor expression by exogenous IL-2 was found to be comparable to normal controls when tested as early as 3 weeks post-SBA-E-BMT. Therefore, the immunologic recovery of proliferative responses to IL-2 and the appearance of cells regulating in vivo activation of T cells appear to be more delayed in patients receiving T cell-depleted BMT. Similar to patients receiving conventional BMT, however, the ability to produce IL-2 after mitogenic stimulation remains depressed for up to 1 year after transplantation.     

Characterisation of blood and synovial fluid lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other joint diseases by monoclonal antibodies (OKT series) and acid α-naphthyl esterase staining

Summary Mononuclear cell preparations from peripheral blood (PBL) and synovial fluid (SFL) of 27 Patients with rheumatoid diseases (15 patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 10 with other inflammatory joint diseases (OJD), 1 with sarcoid arthritis (SA) and 1 with traumatic arthritis (TA) were examined for lymphocyte subpopulations determined by monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series and by the dot-like, acid -naphthyl esterase staining (ANAE) activity. In patients with classic, active RA, blood T cells carrying the OKT8⁺ (suppressor/killer) phenotype were significantly reduced leading to an elevated OKT4/OKT8 ratio of 4.1±0.4 compared with 2.1±0.1 in healthy controls.In 10 patients with OJD this diminution of OKT8⁺ cells in peripheral blood was less pronounced or absent. As regards SFL subpopulations, patients with RA and OJD exhibited a similar distribution pattern with an elevation of OKT8⁺, Ia⁺ and ANAE negative cells and a similar OKT4/OKT8 ratio of 1.5±0.3 and 1.6±0.4, respectively. Similar results were also obtained in the only patient with TA, whereas the patient with SA and one RA patient with relapse after surgical synovectomy exhibited high OKT4/OKT8 ratios, both in synovial fluid and peripheral blood. Neither the OKT markers nor the dot-like ANAE staining pattern were significantly correlated to parameters of systemic or local disease activity as estimated by erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a local disease activity index.     

Peripheral blood T lymphocytes subpopulations in HLA-B7 related rheumatic diseases: ankylosing spondylitis and reactive synovitis

The etiology of B lymphocyte hyperactivity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and in reactive synovitis is unknown and data available on the cellular immune system are controversial. We therefore evaluated peripheral blood T cell populations in AS patients and patients with reactive synovitis (RS) using monoclonal antibodies, previously shown to react with all T cells (OKT3), the inducer-helper T cell subset (OKT4) and the suppressor-cytotoxic T cell subset (OKT8). Results were compared with a normal control group and a group of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. In AS an increase of OKT4+ cells was found, but the total number of T helper-inducer cells in peripheral blood was not different from the normal group and the group of patients with RS. Contrary to the results found in RA, where the helper-inducer/suppressor-cytotoxic ratio (OKT4+/OKT8+) was significantly increased, the immunoregulatory ratio in AS and in RS was normal suggesting another mechanism leading to B cell hyperactivity than in RA.