Generation of interleukin-2-dependent T cell lines from synovial fluids in rheumatoid arthritis
Wilkins, J.A.; Olivier, S.L.; Warrington, R.J.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology 58(1): 1-6
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9104 PMID: 6332690 Document Number: 241564
Synovial fluids from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were found to contain activated T lymphocytes that could be maintained as continuous T cell lines (CTCL) in the presence of the T cell growth factor, interleukin (IL)-2. The CTCL predominantly expressed the OKT8 phenotype and were Ia antigen positive. IL-2-dependent RA CTCL could be maintained in an active dividing state by the presence of RA synovial fluids, whereas IL-2-dependent CTCL from mitogen stimulated PBL failed to respond to the fluids, which were shown to contain IL-2. This suggested that RA CTCL exhibit unique properties not possessed by normal PBL CTCL. The CTCL generated from activated synovial T lymphocyte populations in RA may be used to assess the functions of these cells and their responses to regulatory factors.