Open AccessCharacterization of the binucleated giant cells generated in the autologous mixed leucocyte reaction from patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
GOTO M.,
TSAI V.,
ZVAIFLER N. J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1990.tb03330.x
Subject(s) - giant cell , rheumatoid arthritis , foreign body giant cell , immunology , cd68 , medicine , cd14 , arthritis , pathology , immune system , immunohistochemistry
SUMMARY Binucleated giant cells several limes larger than lymphocytes or monocytes were generated in an autologous mixed leucocyte reaction (AMLR) independent of DNA synthesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The AMLR giant cells with multiple cytoplasmic granules were nonspecific esterase‐staining positive, phagocytic, non‐adherent, HLA‐DR + , CD11b + , CD14 + , 4F2 + , CDW29 + , and anti‐transferrin receptor positive, but negative for T, B or NK markers. RA patients aged less than 60 years form more giant cells: 12.6 ± 13.5% ( n = 33) as compared with 0.4±1.5% in age‐ and sex‐matched normals ( n = 38) ( P <0.001). More giant cells were seen over age 60 in both groups: RA 20.1 ± 15.5% ( n =5) and healthy controls 3.0 ±3.2% ( n = 8) ( P <0.01). Neither disease activity nor treatment appear to influence the result in RA. The giant cells that are probably derived from monocytcs in AMLR may explain the formation of the giant cells in rheumatoid granulation tissues.