Distribution of the anti-gamma globulin factors in the synovial membrane and other tissues in various diseases.

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Abstract
In rheumatoid arthritis 3 patterns of distribution (sparse, lymphoid and vascular) of anti-gamma globulin factors (AGGF) detected by immunofluorescence were observed in biopsy specimens of the synovial membrane. Such patterns reflected the histological alterations, in the synovium. The concentration of AGGF was greatest at the main sites of the disease process (the synovium in arthritis, the liver in liver disease and the bone marrow in macroglobulinemia). The AGGF were also found in cells in the sputum of patients with chronic bronchitis. Circulating AGGF were found in the blood of all these patients. Mixed staining procedures with specific fluorochromes showed, in the synovium and liver of cases of arthritis, cells containing factors active against both aggregated human gamma globulin and rabbit gamma globulin or predominantly against the latter. In contrast, cells reactive with human gamma globulin were most frequent in the liver tissue and bone marrow of patients with liver disease and macroglobulinemia respectively.