PREDOMINANCE OF T CELLS IN LYMPHOCYTIC INFILTRATES OF SYNOVIAL TISSUES IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Synovial tissues from 5 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy for the presence of lymphocytes with bone marrow-derived (B) or thymus-derived (T) surface markers. Five synovial tissues with severe to mild lymphocytic infiltrations by bright field microscopy were examined in parallel with immunofluorescence. B cells were identified with a pepsin-digested fluoresceinated [rabbit] anti-F-(ab'')2 antiserum and T cells were detected with a specific rabbit anti-T lymphocyte antiserum. By these techniques, 75-90% of the lymphocytes in these frozen sections were identified as T cells. Cell suspensions were also prepared by collagenase digestion of 2 of the 5 synovial tissues. The lymphocytes in these cell suspensions were predominantly T lymphocytes (78-85%) as shown by their ability to form spontaneous rosettes with sheep erythrocytes (E rosettes). [The possible immune pathogenesis of RA is discussed.].