Synovial fluid concentration of five different cytokines in rheumatic diseases.
Interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-2, tumour necrosis factor alpha, and the interferons, alfa and gamma, were measured concurrently in synovial fluid samples from 68 patients with rheumatic diseases. Mean interleukin-1 beta concentrations (130.3 (SD 22) pg/ml) were higher in synovial fluids from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than in those from patients with osteoarthritis (27.8(4.5)pg/ml), while measurements in synovial fluids from patients with seronegative spondarthritis were intermediate (72.7 (32) pg/ml). Interleukin-2 and tumour necrosis factor alpha concentrations were lower in the inflammatory arthropathies (RA: 4.5 (0.6) U/ml, 0.39 (0.04) ng/ml; seronegative spondarthritis: 3.1 (0.3) U/ml, 0.33 (0.03) ng/ml respectively) than those in patients with osteoarthritis (5.2 (0.6) U/ml; 0.05 (0.04) ng/ml). Interleukin-2 and tumour necrosis factor alpha concentrations correlated in all groups (r = 0.7), as did the interferons alfa and gamma (r = 0.7). There was no relation between interleukin-1 beta and either interleukin-2 or tumour necrosis factor alpha, or between the interferons and any other cytokine. Several distinct cytokine patterns were noted. Synovial fluids from two non-arthritic subjects were also examined: interleukin-1 beta concentrations were low, but concentrations of the other cytokines were higher than those seen in most arthritic fluids.
Rheumatology Unit, University of Bristol, UK.
C I
CI
Westacott
J T
JT
Whicher
I C
IC
Barnes
D
D
Thompson
A J
AJ
Swan
P A
PA
Dieppe
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000032:analysis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D007372:Interferons / Q000032:analysis*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D007370:Interferon Type I; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D007372:Interferons