Factors In Synovial Fluid Research Articles

Measurement of colony-stimulating factors in synovial fluid: potential clinical value

In this study, 100 synovial fluid (SF) samples from patients with a variety of arthritides were assayed for levels of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) using a human bone-marrow bioassay and enzyme immunoassays for granulocyte (G-) and granulocyte-macrophage (GM-) CSFs. GM-CSF was found more frequently in samples from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) subjects (49%) than in non-RA samples (29%). Absence of GM- but not G- or bioassay CSFs characterised samples from subjects with psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (n = 14). There was strong evidence of an antagonistic relationship between levels of G- and GM-CSFs in samples from RA patients, an effect independent of drug treatment. However, treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) may affect reported CSF concentrations: G-CSF levels were significantly lower in samples from subjects not taking NSAIDs. These results suggest that SF-CSF estimations using commercially available assays could provide useful diagnostic clues for clinicians, but careful interpretation is warranted particularly in patients on long-term NSAID treatment.

Selective presence of IgG2b inducing factor in synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The factor, that we have defined and called IgG2b inducing factor, in synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA-SF) has previously been well characterized both in vitro and in vivo revealing that RA-SF induces a significantly higher IgG2b antibody production in LPS activated murine spleen cells. This activity was separated from the hitherto identified cytokines or factors in RA-SF. In this study we have compared the IgG2b inducing activity in RA-SF with synovial fluid from patients with non-RA arthritides. Here we show that the IgG2b inducing activity is significantly enriched in patients with RA compared to patients with non-RA arthritides and it is not found in healthy, post-traumatic, control groups. We do not yet know the implications of this finding for the disease progress of rheumatoid arthritis, but we believe that the identification of this B cell differentiation factor might elucidate the mechanism leading to hyperactivation of B cells in rheumatoid arthritis.

High concentrations of immunoreactive gliostatin/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor in synovial fluid and serum of rheumatoid arthritis

Since neovascularization plays an important role in the propagation of rheumatoid synovitis, we analyzed the concentration of gliostatin/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (GLS/PD-ECGF), a potent angiogenic and chemotactic factor, in the synovial fluid and serum of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The immunoreactive GLS/PD-ECGF concentrations (mean value ±S.D.) in synovial fluid, measured by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay, were significantly higher in RA patients than in osteoarthritis (OA) patients (233.02±219.40 vs 9.09 ± 14.86 ng/g, P < 0.001) , and the serum concentrations were also higher in RA patients than in age-matched controls (8.77 ± 7.60 vs. 3.74 ±2.61 g/ml, P > 0.005) . These results suggest that GLS/PD-ECGF may participate in the endothelial proliferation resulting in initiation of the extensive emigration of mononuclear cells and proliferation of the synovial tissues in rheumatoid arthritis, and that the immunoreactive GLS/PD-ECGF in serum as well as synovial fluids may be a useful diagnostic marker of RA.

Increased levels of leukemia inhibitory factor in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritides.

To examine synovial fluid (SF) from patients with arthritis, for the presence of the cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). SF from 152 subjects was examined for LIF, using a radioreceptor competition assay. LIF was present at concentrations of 1-43 ng/ml in the SF of 23% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or other inflammatory or infectious arthritides but in only 1 of 29 patients with osteoarthritis (P < 0.01). In the RA patients, the SF LIF concentration correlated significantly with the peripheral blood white blood cell count (WBC) (P < 0.05) and the SF WBC count (P < 0.01), but not with other clinical or radiologic parameters of disease activity or progression. LIF is implicated as a potential mediator of the local or systemic inflammatory response or the joint destruction seen in inflammatory arthritis.

Neutrophil chemotactic factors in synovial fluids of patients with lyme disease

We examined synovial fluid samples from 14 patients with Lyme arthritis for the presence of neutrophil chemotactic factors. Thirteen of the synovial fluids stimulated chemotaxis of normal human neutrophils. The chemotactic activity was heat-sensitive and was not inhibited by antibody to C5a or antibody to interleukin-8, or by a competitive inhibitor of the chemotactic peptide f-Met-Leu-Phe. A culture supernatant of Borrelia burgdorferi also contained neutrophil chemoattractants. Chromatography demonstrated that the chemoattractants in the synovial fluid samples were different from those in the B burgdorferi culture supernatant. One of the major chemotactic factors in Lyme disease synovial fluid had a calculated molecular weight of 13,900. We conclude that a novel, host-derived chemoattractant is present in the synovial fluid of patients with Lyme disease.

On the Presence of Rheumatoid Factor in Joints Before and After Synovectomy

The presence of rheumatoid factor in synovial fluid has been investigated before and after synovectomy. The sensitized sheep cell test (SSC) and acryl fixation test were used. Fourteen patients representing 18 knee joints in which synovectomy was performed, showed the same immunologic conditions in the synovial fluid before and after the surgical procedure. The relationship between the presence of immunoglobulins and certain structural features in the synovial tissue is discussed.

On the Presence of Rheumatoid Factor in Joints Before and After Synovectomy

The presence of rheumatoid factor in synovial fluid has been investigated before and after synovectomy. The sensitized sheep cell test (SSC) and acryl fixation test were used. Fourteen patients representing 18 knee joints in which synovectomy was performed, showed the same immunologic conditions in the synovial fluid before and after the surgical procedure. The relationship between the presence of immunoglobulins and certain structural features in the synovial tissue is discussed.

Superoxide generation by synovial fluid neutrophils enhanced by immune complexes and suppressed by rheumatoid factor in synovial fluid.

Synovial fluid (SF) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) enhanced superoxide generation by neutrophils isolated from RA SF, in contrast to SF from patients with osteoarthritis. These superoxide generation-enhancing substances may be intermediate-sized immune complexes and a complement C5-derived fragment. Rheumatoid factor (RF) isolated from RA SF suppressed superoxide generation-enhancing activity of aggregated IgG. Therefore, biologically active RF may block the interaction of the immune complexes with neutrophils accumulating in RA SF, and protect the joint tissue from the effects of oxygen radicals or proteases.

An assay for estimating the cytotoxicity of synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The joint is the prime site of involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: the synovium showing lymphocytic involvement and damage. The synovial fluid shows evidence of inflammation such as increased neutrophils and raised CRP. Application of a cell-free extract of serum or synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, or serum from normal individuals on to 111indium oxine radiolabelled endothelial cells and fibroblasts, promotes the release of the isotope as a result of cell damage and death (cytotoxicity). In paired samples, synovial fluid was consistently more cytotoxic than rheumatoid serum. There was no difference in the cytotoxicity of rheumatoid serum or normal serum. These results demonstrate the presence of soluble factors in synovial fluid, which are capable of destroying cells, typical of those found in the synovial cavity, in blood vessels and in connective tissue generally. This system may prove to be a useful model of inflammatory damage.

B cell differentiation factor in synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

In this paper we have summarized our findings on immune activity in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. RA is characterized not only by the formation of various autoantibodies but also of a hyperreactivity of the B cell system, shown as an increased DNA synthetic rate of blood non-T, non-monocytic lymphocytes as well as an increased number of actively antibody secreting cells both in the blood and the synovial fluid. Synovial fluid contains biological activity which synergizes with PWM for the induction of Ig-secreting cells in blood from healthy controls. The factor can also substitute for T cells in the PWM-induced antibody synthesis in vitro. This activity fits well with the finding that SF contains a factor which induces increased formation of IgG in LPS-pretreated mouse cell cultures. Experiments show that the factor leads to a preferential increase in the production of IgG2b antibody secreting cells. Therefore, we conclude that synovial fluid contains a B cell differentiating factor with a selective effect on the induction of a particular IgG subclass.

Relationship of angiogenesis factor in synovial fluid to various joint diseases.

A low-molecular-weight freely dialysable angiogenesis factor has been isolated from 49 synovial fluids obtained from patients with various joint diseases. An analysis of disease type and incidence of freely dialysable angiogenesis activity showed that the osteoarthrotic group had a significantly higher incidence than all the other groups (p = 0.0332). Angiogenesis factor has also been detected in a bound form in the retentates of fluids which gave positive results for dialysable factor. The possibility that an imbalance between carrier-bound and free factor may have a causative role in disease is discussed.

Lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid as a source of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotactic factors in synovial fluid and tissue in rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis.

The predominant lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid were extracted and purified from synovial fluid and sonicates of synovial tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SA), or a noninflammatory arthropathy (NIA). The concentration of 5(S),12(R)-dihydroxy-6,8,10-(trans/trans/cis)-14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid (leukotriene B4) in synovial fluid was elevated significantly in patients with RA and a positive latex test for rheumatoid factor (P < 0.05, n = 14) and in patients with SA (P < 0.05, n = 10), compared with that of subjects with NIA (n = 9). The content of 5(S)-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE), but not of leukotriene B4, was elevated significantly in synovial tissue of seven patients with RA in comparison with that of four subjects with NIA (P < 0.05). A single intra-articular injection of corticosteroid significantly lowered the synovial fluid level of leukotriene B4 in six patients with RA. These data suggest an involvement of the potent chemotactic factors 5-HETE and leukotriene B4 in human inflammatory disease.

On the Presence of Rheumatoid Factor in Joints before and after Synovectomy

SummaryThe presence of rheumatoid factor in synovial fluid has been investigated before and after synovectomy. The sensitized sheep cell test (SSC) and acryl fixation test were used. Fourteen patients representing 18 knee joints in which synovectomy was performed, showed the same immunologic conditions in the synovial fluid before and after the surgical procedure. The relationship between the presence of immunoglobulins and certain structural features in the synovial tissue is discussed.

Immunologic Changes in Synovial Fluid Following Synovectomy of the Knee for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Nineteen patients with classic or definite rheumatoid arthritis underwent synovectomy of twenty-two knees. These patients were primarily treated to improve their clinical status but they also served as experimental models for the study of immunologic factors in synovial fluid. Synovectomy resulted in frequent reductions of immunologic factors in synovial fluid but clinical improvement appears to be influenced by additional, possibly anatomical factors as well.

The occurrence of rheumatoid factor in synovial fluid

The concentration of gamma globulin and the latex agglutination reaction of synovial fluid have been compared to serum values in eighty-three patients with various forms of rheumatic disease. In the majority of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and a positive agglutination reaction in serum, the reaction of synovial fluid also was positive, usually in a somewhat lower titer. This discrepancy may be related to the lower protein content of synovial fluid compared to serum. There were a number of cases, however, in which the agglutination reaction of synovial fluid was negative despite strongly positive agglutination reactions of the serum. It is possible that in some cases this may have been the result of recent intra-articular steroid treatment. There were several patients with suspected (possible or probable) rheumatoid arthritis in whom the agglutination reactions of the serum were negative and of the synovial fluid positive. The course of these subjects must be carefully followed before any conclusions can be drawn concerning the possible value of this observation in the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. This finding is compatible, however, with the belief that production of the rheumatoid factor in such cases may be confined to the tissues of one or a few joints. The synovial fluid from a small group of patients with a variety of other rheumatic diseases showed negative reactions with the exception of two patients with ankylosing spondylitis and peripheral arthritis. The study of synovial fluid samples, which have a strong positive agglutination reaction, by means of immunoelectrophoresis and ultra-centrifugationand the effects of mercaptoethanol treatment indicate that the factor responsible for latex agglutination is a macroglobulin.

The Occurrence of Rheumatoid Factor in Synovial Fluid.

s1 April 1963The Occurrence of Rheumatoid Factor in Synovial Fluid.G. P. Rodnan, M.D., F.A.C.P., C. H. Eisenbeis, M.D. (Associate), A. S. Creighton, B.S.G. P. Rodnan, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this author, C. H. Eisenbeis, M.D. (Associate)Search for more papers by this author, A. S. Creighton, B.S.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-58-4-738_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptAlthough the presence of rheumatoid factor in the blood serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis has now been well studied, comparatively little information is available concerning the occurrence of this material in synovial fluid. In the present investigation the concentrations of rheumatoid factor and gamma globulin in synovial fluid have been compared to the values found in simultaneous samples of serum from 68 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 15 patients with other forms of joint disease.In the majority of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and a positive serum agglutination reaction, the synovial fluid reaction was also positive, usually in... This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Pittsburgh, Pa. (CI) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 April 1963Volume 58, Issue 4Page: 738-738KeywordsAttentionBloodGlobulinsRheumatoid arthritisSynovial fluid Issue Published: 1 April 1963 PDF DownloadLoading ...