Cell-contact-dependent activation of CD4⁺T cells by adhesion molecules on synovial fibroblasts

Objective: To determine how cell–cell contact with synovial fibroblasts (SF) influence on the proliferation and cytokine production of CD4+ T cells. Methods: Naïve CD4+ T cells were cultured with SF from rheumatoid arthritis patients, stimulated by anti-CD3/28 antibody, and CD4+ T cell proliferation and IFN-γ/IL-17 production were analyzed. To study the role of adhesion molecules, cell contact was blocked by transwell plate or anti-intracellular...