Interleukin-1 immunoreactive nerve fibres in rat joint synovium.
The occurrence of interleukin-1 immunoreactive nerves in the synovial membrane of rat knee joints was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Synovial tissue sections from 11 rats consistently showed interleukin-1 positive nerve fibres. The majority of the fibres appeared in blood vessel walls. However, varicose interleukin-1 positive fibres were also seen to terminate amidst synoviocytes. The overall distribution resembled that of autonomic fibres previously identified in synovium. Further investigation by double staining disclosed the co-existence of interleukin-1 and neuropeptide Y in the synovial nerve fibres. It has been suggested that the nervous system is implicated in the pathogenesis of arthritis. Considering the role of the cytokine interleukin-1 in various immunogenic and inflammatory conditions, it may prove that neuronal interleukin-1 in the synovial membrane represents a pathway for mediating such effects in joint tissue.
Bjurholm
A
A
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Ahmed
M
M
Svenson
S B
SB
Kreicbergs
A
A
Schultzberg
M
M
D000818:Animals; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000473:pathology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000294:innervation*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D009638:Norepinephrine; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000294:innervation*
D007375:Interleukin-1; D009638:Norepinephrine