Demonstration of a Helper Factor(s) with T‐Cell‐Replacing Activity in Synovial Fluid

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Abstract
Cell‐free synovial fluid (SF) obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis contains a helper factor(s) capable of augmenting the generation of plaque‐forming cells (PFC) in pokeweed mitogen (PWM)‐stimulated normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). This helper factor behaves like a polyclonal B‐cell activator, in that it triggers the formation of IgM, IgG. and IgA PFC. However, SF has little or no effect on the proliferation of PWM‐activaled PBMC. Furthermore, SF was capable of replacing T cells for PWM‐induced differentiation but not proliferation of enriched human blood B lymphocytes. No helper factor or T‐ccll‐replacing activity was found in SF from patients with traumatic synovilis. Fractionation of SF containing helper activity on staphylococcal protein A column indicated that the activity is induced by biologically active molecules distinct from materials that preferentially hind to protein A such as IgG immune complexes. We conclude that the present activity has striking similarities to the recently described B‐cell differentiation factor that is produced by specifically activated T‐cell lines in vitro.

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