CD5 and CD23 expression on B cells in peripheral blood and synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients: relationship with interleukin-4, soluble CD23 and tumour necrosis factor alpha levels
E. Loza et al., CD5 and CD23 expression on B cells in peripheral blood and synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients: relationship with interleukin-4, soluble CD23 and tumour necrosis factor alpha levels, RHEUMATOLOG, 38(4), 1999, pp. 325-328
Methods. We have studied in peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) o
f 31 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the expression of C
D5 and CD23 antigens on B cells, and the levels of soluble CD23 (sCD23), in
terleukin-4 (IL-4) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-cr). We have also
correlated the results with the disease activity index.
Results. CD5 + B cells are expanded in SF and, moreover, show higher expres
sion of CD23 than CD5 - B cells. Twelve patients had detectable levels of I
L-4 in plasma and 10 in SF (nine patients in both samples); the absence of
IL-4 was related to a higher expression of CD23 on CD5 + B cells and with h
igher levels of sCD23. A negative correlation was found in SF between TNF-a
lpha and sCD23 levels.
Conclusion. There is no correlation between disease activity index and the
different parameters studied (expression of CD5 and CD23 on B cells, sCD23,
IL-4 acid TNF-a levels) either in plasma/PB or in SF.