The study of a lymphokine, polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotactic factor from lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis

The production of a lymphokine, polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotactic factor (CF) was studied in lymphocytes obtained from patients with rheumatoid-factor positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Control lymphocytes and PMN were obtained from normal individuals. The stimulation of the lymphocytes was by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and by mixed leukocyte culture. CF was produced to the same degree by the cells from normals and from patients with RA by either type of stimulation. There is significantly less 3H-Thymidine uptake in cells from RA patients as measured by counts per minute although the stimulation index was the same. This can be accounted for by decreased proliferation of RA cells.