Increased expression of interferon (IFN)-gamma together with IFN-gamma receptor in the rheumatoid synovial membrane compared with synovium of patients with osteoarthritis.
Data concerning the presence of T-cell-derived cytokines in the rheumatic joint are conflicting, challenging the hypothesis that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a T-cell-mediated disease. In this study synovial tissue specimens of 11 patients with RA and eight patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were stained for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and its receptor. The level of expression of IFN-gamma was compared with that in tissue specimens of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions of the skin and of chronic tonsillitis. Furthermore, the percentage of T-lymphocytes which stained positive for IFN-gamma was determined using double staining techniques. IFN-gamma and its receptor were detected in all patients with RA and in 7/8 and 3/8, respectively, of patients with OA. Expression of IFN-gamma (P<0.02) and IFN-gamma receptor (P<0.01) in synovial tissue of patients with RA was more abundant compared with that in patients with OA. Although IFN-gamma could be detected in RA synovial tissue, the level of expression was less when compared with DTH reactions of the skin and tonsillitis. The percentage of CD3+ cells being positive for IFN-gamma was approximately 1% in RA, whereas in DTH reactions of the skin it was >90% and in tonsillitis approximately 30%. We conclude that the presence of IFN-gamma and its receptor in RA synovial tissue suggests a role for this cytokine in the ongoing immunological reaction of the inflamed joint.
Dolhain
R J
RJ
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
ter Haar
N T
NT
Hoefakker
S
S
Tak
P P
PP
de Ley
M
M
Claassen
E
E
Breedveld
F C
FC
Miltenburg
A M
AM
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000378:metabolism*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor
D015703:Antigens, CD; D017252:CD3 Complex; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor