Enhanced co-stimulatory ability of synovial fluid accessory cells in rheumatoid arthritis.
We have established in vitro assays that allow the examination of co-stimulatory function of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) antigen-presenting cells (APC). Synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB) APC co-stimulatory ability was compared in the activation of peptide-specific human T-cell clones. T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation by peptide or anti-CD3 antibody allowed the direct comparison of SF and PB APC co-stimulatory activity, separately from their ability to process antigen. SF APC from 15 RA patients consistently enhanced T-cell proliferation when compared to their PB counterparts. Moreover, increasing the numbers of PB APC present resulted in only a minor increase in T-cell proliferation, failing to achieve levels stimulated by SF APC. We propose that the enhanced co-stimulatory function of synovial APC may be a significant factor in the persistence of local immune responses in RA.
Robertson
S E
SE
Department of Rheumatology, University of Birmingham.
Young
S P
SP
Viner
N J
NJ
Bacon
P A
PA
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000939:Epitopes; D010455:Peptides