Proteoglcans and t-cell response in the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract EN

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which involves peripheral joints in a symmetrical distribution.

It is possible that immune responses to proteins in joints may have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

This project addresses the question of T-cell activation by self-proteoglycans in BALB/c mice.

BALB/c proteoglycans were extracted, purified and assayed to determine proteoglycan rich fraction.

Activation of T-cells was assessed by T-cell proliferation assays using hanging drop microcultures.

It was found that BALB/c T-cells recognize BALB/c proteoglycans.

Furthermore, BALB/c proteoglycans were not mitogenic, suggesting strongly that cartilage proteoglycans are autoantigenic for T-lymphocytes.