VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES IN SYNOVIAL FLUIDS FROM PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

Based on the elevated expression of oncogenes in proliferating transformed-appearing synoviocytes we searched for the possible involvement of a viral agent in the pathogenesis of RA. We report the detection of virus-like particles with retroviral C type morphology in SF, which lack the typical morphologic as well as immunohistochemical features of the human T-lymphotropic and immunodeficiency viruses.