Presence of a population of CD20+,CD38? B lymphocytes with defective proliferative responsiveness in the synovial compartment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

SF CD20+,CD38- B cells have functionally impaired proliferative responsiveness. The capacity of these cells to respond to activation by the production of Ig supports the notion that these cells might serve as Ig-producing effector cells and, as such, play a role in the pathophysiology of RA.