Interactions between T cells and synovial fibroblasts.

Abstract T lymphocytes, synovial macrophages, and synovial fibroblasts are the three most abundant cell populations in rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue, and each is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of joint inflammation and destruction. While interactions between T cells and macrophages and between macrophages and fibroblasts have been carefully studied, less attention has been paid to potential interactions between T lymphocytes and synovial fibroblasts. In this review we consider available data which suggests that cell-cell contact between T lymphocytes and synovial fibroblasts may lead to activation of each cell type. This interaction is likely to be significant in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis.