ACTIVATED T CELLS IN THE SYNOVIAL-FLUID OF ARTHRITIC PATIENTS - CHARACTERIZATION AND COMPARISON WITH INVITRO ACTIVATED HUMAN AND MURINE T CELLS IN COOPERATION WITH MONOCYTES IN CYTOTOXICITY

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 122  (3) , 878-883
Abstract
Lymphocytes were separated from the synovial fluid of 34 arthritic patients. The majority of lymphocytes rosetted with SRBC [sheep red blood cells] and were of T [thymus-derived] cell origin. A proportion of these cells were activated as indicated by their high 3H-thymidine incorporation in vitro, the formation of stable E [erythrocyte] rosettes, and their ability to attach to autologous monocytes and to human cells. Such attached activated T cell enhanced the cytotoxic activity of monocytes. Human and murine-activated T cells generated in mixed lymphocyte cultures attached to cell lines of the same species, and after their attachment they enhanced the cytotoxic activity of monocytes and natural killer cells. Activated T cells in immunologically damaged tissues may attract circulating nonspecific killer cells to the site of the response.