Lymphocytes eluted from synovial tissue of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Synovial tissues from 11 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis were investigated. The elution of lymphocytes was performed according to a procedure previously described for synovial tissue of adult rheumatoid arthritis patients (1). The T lymphocytes were pre dominant (mean: 71%) in all cell suspensions studied, whereas the average proportion of B lymphocytes was 4%. In addition, Fc-receptor-bearing lymphocytes were demonstrable (mean: 8%). Transformation of the lymphocytes was induced by the unspecific mitrogens phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and concanavallin A, whereas antigens such as ppd and candida albicans antigen were usually ineffective.