EFFECTS OF FATTY-ACIDS ON PROLIFERATION AND ACTIVATION OF HUMAN SYNOVIAL COMPARTMENT LYMPHOCYTES

The object of this study was to determine the effects of eicosanoid pr ecursor fatty acids on activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes f rom synovial fluid and synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis patient s. Proliferation was determined by direct cell counts; phenotypic char acterization of surface molecules was by cytofluorometric analysis. Di homogammalinolenic acid, arachidonic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid s uppressed proliferation of interleukin-2-dependent lymphocytes by as m uch as 80%; cell viability was not altered by fatty acids. Administrat ion of particular fatty acids may prove to be a useful therapeutic int ervention in rheumatoid arthritis patients because of their ability to suppress activation and proliferation of synovial compartment T lymph ocytes.