IL-2 enhancing factor(s) in B cell supernatants from patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus.

Correlations between IL-2 Enhancing Activity and Clinical Parameters in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

“…We have recently reported a new lymphokine, IL-2 enhancing factor(s) entitled B cell derived growth enhancing factor(s)-2 (BGFE-2), which enhanced IL-2 dependent proliferation of CTLL A/J cells. BGEF-2 was produced by B cells of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the active stages, and had a molecular weight ranging from 15 kd to 20 kd, which differed from interleukin (IL)-1, 2, 4, 5, 6, interferon (INF)-a, y and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a) (Tomura et al 1989). …”