[T- and B-lymphocyte hyperreactivity in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis].

In an attempt to characterize immunological reactions in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) mononuclear cells were tested for their ability to secrete interleukin-2 (II-2), and for their response to the T-cell independent B-cell mitogen anti-mu sepharose. Compared with patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), patients with PSS showed a marked enhancement in their response to anti-mu. With regard to II-2 secretion mononuclear cells from PSS patients tended to show increased responses as well. Our data provide evidence for hyperreactivity at both the T- and B-cell level in PSS.