Alarcón-Segovia D, Ruíz-Arguelles A
Arthritis Rheum. 1980 Mar;23(3):314-8. doi: 10.1002/art.1780230308.
Of 11 patients with untreated mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) who were studied, all had decreased circulating T gamma cells, and all but one had decreased suppressor cell function of T cells on B cells, determined by a reverse hemolytic plaque-cell assay. Results in 21 normal subjects were significantly, different. Incubation of mononuclear cells from MCTD patients in purified anti-ribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP) IgG resulted in further decrease in their suppressor function. Decrease of T gamma cells and their suppressor function may be due to in vivo penetration of anti-RNP antibody into T gamma cells, causing their deletion.
