Identifying cytokines associated with acute and chronic Lyme arthritis (835.6)

Abstract

Symptoms of untreated infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, which is the causative agent of Lyme disease, frequently include arthritis, particularly of large joints. In pediatric patients, symptoms of arthritis typically resolve following treatment with an adequate course of antibiotics. However, in 10 to 20 percent of pediatric patients with Lyme arthritis, symptoms persist despite patients having received adequate treatment with antibiotics. Patients whose symptoms resolve in less than 6 months after initiation of antibiotic therapy are classified as having acute Lyme arthritis. Patients whose symptoms do not resolve within 6 months are classified as having chronic Lyme arthritis.Cells were obtained from the synovial fluid from pediatric patients with both chronic and acute Lyme arthritis. These were analyzed to determine if cytokines produced by synoviocytes could be used to predict the outcome of treatment with antibiotics. Primary cell cultures were cultured in transformation media to change fibroblasts into adipocytes and osteocytes. Culture supernatants were then tested for cytokine concentration changes.Results showed that transformation of synoviocytes caused significant variation of inflammatory cytokine concentrations associated with arthritis inflammation: MCP‐1 and IL‐6. IL‐6 rapidly declined in both adipogenic and osteogenic transformations. MCP‐1 also declined. Results confirm that transformation of synoviocytes from synovial fluid samples caused significant variation of inflammatory cytokine concentrations associated with arthritis inflammation.