Cytokines and the chronic inflammation of rheumatic disease. I. The presence of interleukin-1 in synovial fluids.

Abstract

Sera and synovial fluids from patients with a variety of rheumatic diseases were assayed for interleukin-2 (IL-2) activity in a system utilizing the proliferative response of cultured human phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) T cell blasts. The synovial fluids from 14 rheumatoid arthritis, eight ankylosing spondylitis, three psoriatic arthritis and 11 osteoarthritis patients, all showed IL-2 activity. The amounts of IL-2 present in the fluids from different diseases were compared and ranged from 4.2 to 140.0 units/ml.