title: Elevated nerve growth factor levels in the synovial fluid of patients with inflammatory joint disease.
abstract: A novel pH shock extraction procedure was used to measure nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in both normal and inflamed synovial fluids using a sensitive and specific two-site enzyme linked immunosorbant assay. To date no data is available on NGF levels in normal synovial fluids. Synovial fluids were taken from 5 normal volunteers, 12 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 10 patients with other inflammatory arthropathies. The mean +/- SEM NGF concentration in normal synovial fluids was 95 +/- 33.2 pg/ml (range 39.1-143.1 pg/ml), whereas the mean NGF concentration in the synovial fluids taken from patients with rheumatoid arthritis was 532.5 +/- 123.8 pg/ml (range 152-1686 pg/ml). The mean NGF concentration in patients with other inflammatory arthropathies was also raised (430.6 +/- 90 pg/ml; range 89-1071 pg/ml). The NGF concentrations were significantly higher in the synovial fluids from both inflamed groups (ANOVA p < 0.05) compared to normals. Raised levels of NGF in synovial fluid may contribute directly to joint inflammation via activation of inflammatory cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunopathology Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia. dhalliday@medicine.adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zettler
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scicchitano
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: McNeil
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000378:metabolism; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000378:metabolism; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism; D002805:Chondrocalcinosis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors