Augmented numbers of HLA-DR-positive T lymphocytes in the synovial fluid and synovial tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: in vivo-activated T lymphocytes are potent stimulators in the mixed lymphocyte reaction.
Twenty to 40% of T cells from synovial fluid and synovial tissue and 3-11% of the peripheral blood T lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) expressed HLA-DR antigens as detected by monoclonal anti-HLA-DR antibodies in direct immunofluorescence. Synovial fluid and synovial tissue T lymphocytes had a stimulating capacity comparable to that of non-T cells in the allogeneic primary mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). The MLR was inhibited by monoclonal anti-HLA-DR antibodies. This is, to our knowledge, the first report on in-vivo-activated T lymphocytes as stimulator cells in MLR. The results suggest that T cells from synovial fluid and synovial tissue are locally activated by stimuli so far unidentified.
D000328:Adult; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II