Binding of normal human mononuclear cells to blood vessels in rheumatoid arthritis synovial membrane.

We examined the binding of mononuclear cells to blood vessels in the rheumatoid arthritis synovial membrane. Two of 4 synovia that had lymphocyte-rich areas contained blood vessels adhesive for mononuclear cells. These reactive vessels showed striking similarities to high endothelial venules of the paracortical region of lymph node, where normal lymphocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and lymphocyte emigration into tissue occurs.