Possible role of lymphokines in the development of ectopic lymphoid foci in the chicken.

Abstract

The study of experimental immunological models of the rheumatoid joint has provided important information relevant to the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (1); but it also provides an opportunity to investigate mechanisms involved in the development of ectopic lymphoid foci in an anatomical compartment (i.e. the synovium) readily susceptible to experimental manipulation. This paper describes the production of antigen-induced synovitis in the ankle joints of sensitized chickens, which is accompanied by infiltration of the synovium by diffuse and organized collections of lymphoid cells. From studying effects of bursectomy and thymectomy upon the cellular pattern of this synovitis, it is concluded that both T-cells and B-cells are needed for the full development of the histological picture. In view of the possibility that lymphocyte activation products may be involved in the regulation of lymphoid cell traffic (2), a study was also undertaken of the production in vitro of lymphocyte mitogenic factor by antigen-activated chicken lymphocytes. As with the antigen-induced synovitis, both T-cells and B-cells are found to be necessary for the full development of lymphocyte mitogenic factor activity.