Differences of antigen composition of rheumatoid arthritic (RA) and non-RA derived tissue cultured synovial cells as detected by monkey anti-RA synovial cell sera

Abstract

Antisera produced in a monkey by injections of RA-derived synovial cells grown in tissue culture react preferentially with synovial cells compared to fibroblastic cell strains of other tissues. The antisera also detected differences of the antigenic components of RA and non-RA synovial cells utilizing a number of immunochemical techniques. Following adsorptions with cross-reactive antigen sources the antisera exhibited quantitative differences of reactivity to either RA or non-RA cells by immunofluorescence and complement-mediated cytotoxicity assays. The data were interpreted as indicating that fetal calf serum antigens differentially adhere to RA and non-RA synovial cells, and that antigens in synovial fluid cross-reactive with synovial cell antigens are expressed to a greater degree on RA-derived synovial cells. The results substantiate other reports that synovial cells from RA individuals are different from non-RA cells by a number of growth, metabolic and antigenic characteristics.