Enhanced production of interleukin‐2 in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis. hyperactivity of cd4‐positive t cells?

Abstract
A significant enhancement of interleukin-2 production was observed in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral lymphocytes from patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). Their Leu-3a:Leu-2a ratio was also significantly higher than normal. Moreover, Leu-3a+ cells freshly purified from PSS patients' blood produced much more interleukin-2 than did cells from normal subjects. These results suggest that T cell hyperactivity, especially among Leu-3a+ T cells, occurs in patients with PSS.