title: Detection of T cells responsive to a vascular growth factor in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The primary lesion in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a destructive synovitis characterized by proliferation of endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and vascular smooth muscle cells, and with perivascular lymphocyte aggregates. A nonhematopoietic growth factor, acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), may induce many of the biological features found in rheumatoid synovium, including T cell activation. To determine if aFGF-responsive T cells are increased in RA, we developed an assay to measure the frequency of peripheral blood T cells that are costimulated by aFGF. The data indicate that the frequency of aFGF-responsive T cells is increased in RA and may change with disease activity and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn. 37232, USA.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1