Normalization of defective interleukin 1 and interleukin 2 production in patients with pemphigus vulgaris following chrysotherapy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the origins of disturbances of immunoreactivity in patients with pemphigus vulgaris. Peripheral mononuclear blood cells of PV patients showed reduced proliferative responses to lectins in vitro. The capacity of these cells to produce IL-1 and IL-2 was tested. A severe defect in both IL-1 and IL-2 production was observed; in addition, the capacity of the cells to express IL-2 receptors in response to PHA was diminished. The defects did not result from concurrent corticosteroid therapy. The positive therapeutic effect of gold sodium thiomalate therapy correlated with the normalization in the cell's capacity to produce IL-1 and IL-2. It seems possible that the observed deficiencies are related to the pathogenesis of the disease.