Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of rheumatoid synovial fibroblast on biological properties of T cell. Methods: The sample of synovial tissue was obtained from RA patient during joint replacement surgery. The synovial fibroblasts were extracted by enzyme. The cells of the third passage were co-cultured with Jurkat T cells under the same concentration. MTT method was used to detect the proliferation ability of the co-culture T cells. Flow Cytometer was used to detect the apoptosis of the co-cultured T cells. Real-Time PCR was used to detect the expression of IL-2 mRNA and IL-23p19mRNA. All of the results were compared with the group of T cells alone, respectively. Results: The fast-proliferation phase of the co-cultured T cells had been observed during the previous four days, and reached the proliferation platform at the 7th day, while that of the T cells alone group was observed during the 7th day to the 10th day, and reached the proliferation platform at the 13th day. The proliferation rate was significantly higher in the co-cultured group than that of T cells alone group at the 4th day and the 7th day respectively (P<0.001). The proliferation rate was significantly lower in the co-cultured group than that of T cells alone group at the 10th day and the 13th day respectively (P<0.001). RA synovial fibroblasts co-cultured with T cells inhibited the apoptosis of the T cells (P<0.005). The expression of IL-2mRNA and IL-23p19mRNA in T cells were significantly increased by RA fibroblasts. Conclusion: RA fibroblasts have the potential effect on activating the co-cultured T cells. This may be one of the factors involved in RA pathogenesis and progression.

Key words: arthritis, rheumotoid, synovial membrane, fibroblasts, T cell, co-culture