[The interleukin-1 activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients].

In 25 healthy subjects and 47 patients with RA production of interleukin-1 was studied. Increase in the production of interleukin-1 in the supernatants of nonstimulated monocyte cultures was observed in RA patients and more frequently in patients with high activity of the inflammatory process.

[Study of the changes in the expression of histocompatibility antigens on the monocyte surface in the evaluation of the macrophage component of the immune system in rheumatoid arthritis].

Peripheral blood monocytes from 23 healthy persons and 25 RA patients were studied by cytohistochemistry, indirect immunofluorescence and cytophotometry to reveal interrelationship between cellular function of the system of mononuclear phagocytes and the expression of HLA-complex antigens in health and in RA. An increase in the phagocytic and metabolic activity of circulating monocytes was shown to be associated with a degree of the activity of an inflammatory process. A decrease in the level of the expression of HLA antigens class I was established in parallel with the rearrangement of the numerical ratio of cells expressing low and high levels of class II HLA-molecules.