The proliferative response of mononuclear cells (MNC) in synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to mycobacterial 65 kDa heat shock protein (HSP65) was tested and the response compared with the percentage of HLA-DR+.gamma delta+ T cells in lymphocytes of SFMNC or PBMNC:
Proliferative response of MNC was measured by means of 3H-thymidine incorporation and expressed by means of the stimulation index. Percentage of HLA-DR+.gamma delta+ T cells in lymphocytes was measured by means of the 2-color flow cytometry method.
Higher response of SFMNC than PBMNC to HSP65 was noted in 14 of 19 patients with RA. Stimulation indexes of RA-SFMNC correlated significantly with HLA-DR+.gamma delta+ T cell percentage in lymphocytes.
In the SF of patients with RA, an accumulation of HSP65 reactive and HLA-DR+.gamma delta+ T cells was noted.