[Cell kinetics in experimental rheumatoid lesions and application in antirheumatic drug research (author's transl)]

The kinetics of chronic inflammatory cellular infiltrates in antiglobulin-induced arthritis, peritonitis and subcutaneous fibrin granuloma were investigated. Only small numbers of the mononuclear cells were labeled after 3H-thymidine impulse labeling, whereas a high labeling index results after 3H-thymidine labeling of the bone marrow. It is concluded that in experimental arthritis the inflammatory so-called cellular hyperplasia consists in bone marrow derived mononuclear cells. In experimental peritonitis glucocorticoid treatment decreases the 3H-thymidine labeling indices. By means of such labeling studies the antiproliferative and antiexsudative properties of steroids were demonstrated quantitatively. Therefore we suggest to make use of experimental cell kinetics for the recognition of anti-rheumatic drugs.