Lymphocyte response to enterobacterial biostructures in seronegative spondarthritis: specific T-cell mediated immunity or non-specific polyclonal B-cell activation?

The proliferative response, as measured by thymidine uptake and the B-cell differentiation response, as measured by Ig secretion, have been studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients with ankylosing spondylitis, Yersinia reactive arthritis, Klebsiella infections and healthy controls, following stimulation with enterobacterial biostructures.