Plaque-forming, antibody-dependent, cytotoxic cells with monocytic properties are present in rheumatoid synovial tissue

Mononuclear cells recovered from inflammatory synovial membrane using fine-needle biopsy

A simple technique for fine-needle aspiration biopsy from the synovial membrane of arthritis knee joints preceded by lavage of the joint cavity is described. The procedure was atraumatic, well accepted, and could be performed on outpatients. Cells originating from the synovial membrane were obtained in 12 of 17 knees using a 1.2-mm cannula. The yield was 6.0 x 10(3) to 135 x 10(3) mononuclear cells. The cell populations could be expanded by stimulation with antigen and mitogen. The described fine-needle biopsy technique is of value when repeated sampling of synovial membrane cell populations is desired.

B lymphocytes, B cell clones and rheumatoid factor antibodies in rheumatoid inflammation

This report focuses on the B lymphocytes and plasma cells in rheumatoid inflammation, and discusses the major autoantibodies in the pathogenetic mechanisms, i.e. the rheumatoid factor (RF) antibodies. We describe ways of raising human hybridomas that produce RF antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in order to elucidate how these antibodies differ from the RF antibodies that are part of the normal immune response in man and animals, and from those in diseases other than RA, e.g. in M-components seen in mixed cryoglobulinaemia and in Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia. The preliminary results of these studies are presented and discussed.