Ability to grow in vitro and character of transformation of synovial fluid cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Growth of cells from the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in vitro was demonstrated. In the process of transformation five types of cells were observed to appear: macrophages, polykaryocytes, fibroblast-like cells, histiocytes, and lymphocytes. The intensity of cell growth in culture was found to depend on the activity of the disease, and a significant decrease (P<0.01) of this intensity occurred during treatment of the patients. Growth of fibroblast-like cells, with the formation of colonies, is evidence of their possible role in the genesis of inflammatory processes and sclerosis of the joints. The phenomenon of cytopathic interaction between lymphocytes and fibroblast-like cells observed in the experiments is an indicator of autoimmune conflict in the joint and a possible mechanism of self-maintenance of the autoimmune process.