[Studies of natural killer cell cytotoxicity against human chondrocytes in patients with articular arthritic changes complicated by psoriasis and systemic scleroderma].

The natural killer (NK) activity against fetal chondrocytes was studied in patients with psoriasis and systemic sclerosis. It was shown that the cell responsible for the cytotoxic effect is a lymphocyte CD16+, CD2-. In patients with arthritic psoriasis NK activity against chondrocytes was significantly higher than in other psoriasis patients or in healthy controls. Preliminary studies show that the NK activity against chondrocytes is decreased in patients with systemic sclerosis.