[The incidence of viral and microbial antigens and the serum interferon titer in certain forms of rheumatism].

The presence of some viral and inframicrobial antigens in peripheral leukocytes was investigated by the indirect immunofluorescence technique in 120 patients with different forms of rheumatism and 50 clinically healthy controls. Mycoplasma pneumoniae and type 3 para-influenza virus were detected most frequently. The determination of serum interferon titer revealed a rise of this product in rheumatic patients.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). VII. Established lymphoid cell line (IVPat-88) obtained from synovial fluid of a patient with aseptic arthritis.

Attempts have been made to culture mononuclear cells from synovial fluid of 8 patients with arthropathy, and have led to the development of the lymphoid cell line IVPat-88. Cell line has been propagated by serial passages for more than 14 weeks in continuous culture. The cells grew as single, free-floating individuals, or in dense clumps without adherence to glass or plastic surface.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). V. Incidence of EBV antibodies in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Serum samples from 95 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 24 patients with other various rheumatic diseases, 50 patients with diabetes mellitus, 34 patients with acute viral infections, 6 patients with infectious mononucleosis, 77 patients with lymphomas and leukemia and 110 blood donors and 24 healthy subjects as normal controls, respectively, were tested by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) reaction for the presence of specific antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus determined viral capsid antigen (anti-VCA) and Epstein-Barr active viral infection. The IF test carried out in acetone-fixed smears of EB-3 cell line revealed EB antibodies anti-VCA in 83.3% of infectious mononucleosis, 61.