Abstract
Objectives: In order to detect the early stage of cartilage destruction of rheumatoid arthritis, we histopathologically examined the knee joints of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/l) mice.Materials and methods: The serum levels of anti-type II collagen antibodies and rheumatoid factors in female MRL/l mice (3-36 weeks old) were detected by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . Knee joints were obtained from female MRL/l mice (3-22weeks old) and examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and immunohistochemical method. Anti-cathepsin-L antibody was used in this study to detect the relation between inflammatory cells and matrix degradation.Results: The anti-type II collagen antibodies in sera were found from 4 weeks old preceding the increase of rheumatoid factors. Inflammatory cells were appeared from 4 weeks old. They were remarkably accumulated in the ossification groove of Ravier (R-zone) in the posterior part of the femur. The osteoclasts were confirmed by TRAP staining and their number was increased in the course of the age as well as the serum level of anti type II collagen antibodies. Some inflammatory cells in R-zone strongly expressed cathepsin-L, which indicated that these cells participated in the carilage destruction.Conclusion: These results suggest that the direct cartilage destruction occurs with few or no evidences of synovitis.
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