INCREASED POPULATION OF HIGH FLUORESCENCE 1F7 (CD26) ANTIGEN ON T-CELLS IN SYNOVIAL-FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Objective. To investigate the activation of T cells in peripheral bloo d (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA), Methods. The expression of CD26 (Tal and 1F7) antigen on T cells was analyzed in 7 women with RA and 7 healthy control subjects by immu nofluorescence. Results, The percentage of CD3+ CD26+ cells was signif icantly higher in PB of patients with RA compared with healthy subject s. The 1F7+ cell population was divided into high (1F7+(high) cells) a nd low fluorescence populations (1F7+(low) cells), based on 1F7 antige n density. The percentage of 1F7+(high) cells in SF of RA was markedly increased compared with PB of patients and healthy subjects. However, RA SF contained lower percentages of whole 1F7+ cells compared with P B. Conclusion. Our results indicate that SF of patients with RA contai ns activated T cells, and suggest that T cells with high levels of CD2 6 antigen may preferentially migrate into the rheumatoid synovium to i nduce inflammation and tissue destruction.