Self-reactive T cells induce and perpetuate chronic relapsing arthritis

摘要

Joint-draining lymph node-derived CD4 T cells from pristane-injected rats induce chronic arthritis. Arthritis development in irradiated rats transferred with 2 × 10 in vitro-re-stimulated cells from the LN or spleen of pristane-injected donors (14 days after pristane injection). Control rats were transferred with an equal number of non-re-stimulated LN cells. = 4 rats/group. Chronic relapses of arthritis in individual paws of a representative recipient transferred with re-stimulated LN cells. = 1. H&E staining of a representative arthritic hind paw (top) showing typical pannus formation above the joint cavity at day 124 after injection of re-stimulated cells from LNs of pristane-injected donors. Bottom image shows a corresponding section from a rat transferred with non-re-stimulated cells. Serum levels of COMP and AGP on day 124 post-transfer. Control, rats transferred with non-re-stimulated LN cells; PIA, rats with chronic PIA (non-transferred). = 4–6/group. Arthritis development in irradiated rats transferred with 2 × 10 in vitro-re-stimulated CD4 T cells. = 3. Data show mean values ± SD. Statistical analyses using the Mann-Whitney test; *