Synovial microenvironment-T cell interactions. Human T cells bind to fibroblast-like synovial cells in vitro

Arthritis Rheum. 1988 Aug;31(8):947-55. doi: 10.1002/art.1780310802.

Abstract

Synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by infiltration of the synovium by T and B lymphocytes and monocytes, as well as by the proliferation of synovial lining cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. To study synovial cell-T cell interactions in vitro, we established cultures of fibroblast-like synovial cells, and used these cells in a synovial cell-T cell binding assay. Using T cells at various stages of differentiation and activation, we found that human thymocytes and mitogen-activated peripheral blood T cells bound to fibroblast-like synovial cells, whereas fresh peripheral blood T cells did not. Moreover, activated T cells from inflammatory synovial tissue or from synovial fluid also bound to fibroblast-like synovial cells cultured in vivo. Antibodies against certain epitopes of the T cell CD2 (35.1) and synovial cell lymphocyte function-associated antigen-3 (LFA-3) (TS2/9) molecules inhibited synovial cell-thymocyte binding. However, these same anti-CD2 and anti-LFA-3 antibodies only partially inhibited synovial cell binding to activated normal peripheral blood T cells. Moreover, T cells from inflammatory synovium from rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients also bound to synovial cells in vitro. These findings demonstrate that fibroblast-like synovial cells are capable of binding to human T cells in vitro, and suggest that during the course of inflammatory synovitis, synovial fibroblast-T cell interactions may occur in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Differentiation / immunology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology*
  • CD2 Antigens
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Osteoarthritis / immunology*
  • Receptors, Immunologic / immunology
  • Synovial Membrane / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • CD2 Antigens
  • Epitopes
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Immunologic