Role of lymphocytes in collagen induced arthritis

We investigated the time related changes of lymphocyte subsets in the blood, regional lymph node and thymus during the development of collagen induced arthritis in mice. Flow cytometric analysis showed that Lyt2+ T, but not L3T4+ T cells in the blood or regional lymph node, was significantly reduced throughout the observation. The number of Lyt2+ T cells was decreased in lymph nodes of collagen immunized vs adjuvant controls while B cells were increased and L3T4+ T cells were not different. These might act as a potential factor for the onset of collagen induced arthritis. The reduction of Lyt2+ cells was not influenced by thymic T cell maturation; it is conceivable that the main immune organ is the regional lymph node.