The effect of lymphokines on proliferation and collagen synthesis of cultured human synovial cells

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Abstract
Human mononuclear cell supernatants were obtained by incubating 3 .times. 106 cells/ml of Dulbecco''s modified Eagles medium at 37.degree. C for 24 or 48 h, either in presence or absence of phytohemagglutinin. After removal of intact cells, the supernatants were dialyzed and diluted (1:1, 1:2, 1:5, 1:10) again using the above medium. The diluted supernatants, containing a final concentration of 10% (vol/vol) human platelet-factor poor serum, were found to stimulate the proliferation of hunan synovial cells in culture and to increase both the total amount of collagen and the percentage of Type III collagen synthesized by these cells. Incubation of the mononuclear cells in presence of phytohemagglutinin appeared to further enhance the stimulatory effects of the supernatants upon the synovial cells. Since activated mononuclear leukocytes such as lymphocytes and macrophages are present in rheumatoid synovia, factors released from activated mononuclear leukocytes may play an important role in the proliferation of rheumatoid synovial tissue and development of the pannus.