Neutrophil function and HLA-B27. Superoxide production and yersinicidal activity of neutrophils from patients with previous yersinia arthritis.

Ankylosing spondylitis and reactive arthritis triggered by either enteritis or urethritis are both associated with human leucocyte antigen (HLA) B27. The pathogenesis of these diseases is not known, but it may involve immune function and inflammatory responsiveness of the host. Evidence has accumulated that neutrophils of HLA-B27 positive subjects show high chemotactic responses both in vitro and in vivo. Such a hyperreactivity may result in an exaggerated inflammatory response and thereby contribute to the pathogenesis of HLA-B27 associated diseases. We have extended the studies of phagocyte function by examining superoxide production and yersinicidal activity of neutrophils from patients with previous yersinia arthritis; the results show no gross differences, between patients and healthy subjects on one hand and between subjects with and without HLA-B27 on the other.