Characteristics of spontaneously proliferating mononuclear cells in rheumatoid arthritis.
The phenomenon of increased spontaneous incorporation of 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) into peripheral blood mononuclear cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been investigated. The activity was found to be short lived and affected less than 1% of cells. Using a Percoll density gradient we identified two populations of active cells. RA patients with active synovitis and increased 3H-TdR incorporation in the low density population of cells have higher overall 3H-TdR incorporation than normal controls and patients with inactive RA. The low density cell population is enriched for Ia+ cells. The data are consistent with raised spontaneous 3H-TdR incorporation being due to an in-vivo cell mediated immune response.
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001345:Autoradiography; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D013936:Thymidine