Aspects of resorption and formation of connective tissue during chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.
Connective tissue destruction is a major characteristic of chronic rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Attempts at repair and fibrosis are also seen. This process is accompanied by local cellular and humoral inflammatory reactions. Production of large amount of collagenase and prostaglandin (PGE2) are demonstrated in vivo and can account for the pathogenesis. Long term cultures of adherent synovial cells from patient with RA produce also large amounts of collagenase and PGE2. Collagenase and PGE2 levels can be stimulated with a soluble factor (MCF), a monokine produced by monocyte-macrophages in culture. MCF production is modulated by cellular elements (T lymphocytes), by humoral elements (Fc fragments of immunoglobulin, immune complexes, antigens, lectins), by elements of the matrix (collagen). MCF appears to belong to the category of the interleukin 1. This factor also affects cell replication, collagen synthesis, hormonal response (to PGE2 and PTH). The monocyte-macrophages in this system appear to be the key between the immune and non-immune systems. Studies of MCF (one of the monocyte-macrophage products) will help the understanding of the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation such as RA and the designing and screening of new drugs potentially useful in destructive diseases.
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone; D006801:Humans; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D003012:Microbial Collagenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015846:Monokines; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000166:cytology
D015846:Monokines; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011506:Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D003012:Microbial Collagenase; D015232:Dinoprostone