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Analysis of bcl-2+ lymphocyte subpopulations in inflammatory synovial infiltrates by a double-immunostaining technique

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Abstract

We used a double-immunostaining technique to analyze the distribution of bcl-2+ B and T lymphocytes within the synovial membranes (SM) of 13 patients with rheumatic diseases: 11 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 1 with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and 1 with osteoarthritis (OA). A high proportion (up to 50%) of the lymphocytes belonged to the B cell subset. Most of both T and B lymphocytes were positive for the bcl-2 protein. In germinal centers B lymphocytes were also negative for bcl-2 protein expression, comparable to the situation in germinal centers of secondary lymphatic organs. We conclude that bcl-2+ B lymphocytes are submitted to antigen selection in the inflamed SMs while bcl-2+ protein expression provides survival signals for their persistence in the infiltrates. The expression of bel-2 may be an important factor in protecting lymphocytes in SM from apoptosis by glucocorticoids, cytostatic drugs, and irradiation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine I, Saarland Medical School, D-66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany

    M. Zdichavsky, C. Schorpp, A. Nickels, B. Koch, M. Pfreundschuh & A. Gause

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  1. M. Zdichavsky
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  2. C. Schorpp
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  3. A. Nickels
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  4. B. Koch
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  5. M. Pfreundschuh
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  6. A. Gause
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Zdichavsky, M., Schorpp, C., Nickels, A. et al. Analysis of bcl-2+ lymphocyte subpopulations in inflammatory synovial infiltrates by a double-immunostaining technique. Rheumatol Int 16, 151–157 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01419728

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01419728

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