HUMAN POST-THYMIC PRECURSOR CELLS IN HEALTH AND DISEASE .9. IMMUNOREGULATORY T-CELL CIRCUITS IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 43  (3) , 473-477
Abstract
T cell subpopulations and their immunoregulatory circuits in the peripheral blood of 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were receiving no medications that might interfere with the results were studied. Normal T cells with receptors for the IgG or IgM Fc portion as well as autologous erythrocyte rosette-forming T cells (Tar cells), a subpopulation of T cells which have the properties of human post-thymic precursors were found. RA patient peripheral blood cells have normal concanavalin A-induced or spontaneously-expanded suppressor cell functions. Also normal were the characteristic functions of the Tar cells; feedback inhibition and the suppression generation. The normal state of these T cell subpopulations and immunoregulatory circuits in the peripheral blood of patients with RA contrasts with their various abnormalities in other connective tissue diseases. Apparently the RA immunoregulatory aberration involves primarily B cells, or, if it involves T cells, it does so primarily in the synovial membrane.