Immune functions of human synovial cells. phenotypic and t cell regulatory properties of macrophage‐like cells that express hla–dr

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Abstract
Normal and rheumatoid synovial cells have been analyzed in frozen sections and in suspension. HLA–DR‐expressing, macrophage‐like cells are demonstrated in normal synovial intima and in rheumatoid tissue. Suspended normal synoviocytes equaled peripheral blood non–T lymphocytes as stimulators of mixed lymphocyte reactions, whereas adherent rheumatoid synovial cells were extremely efficient as such stimulators and in presenting soluble antigens to autologous T lymphocytes. This HLA–DR‐dependent T lymphocyte regulation might provide a cellular basis for the HLA–D haplotype–arthritis associations.