Cytotoxicity in progressive systemic sclerosis: no evidence for increased cytotoxicity against fibroblasts of different origin.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 13 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis and 10 normal controls were tested in a cytotoxicity assay against fibroblasts derived from normal adult skin, scleroderma-involved skin and fetal skin. No differences between controls and patients were demonstrated. Sera from patients and controls revealed no differences in cytotoxic effect on scleroderma fibroblast cultures, and patients' sera did not induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity when added in combination with control peripheral blood mononuclear cells.