title: Expression and function of CD40 in rheumatoid arthritis synovium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the involvement of CD40 in chronic activation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial monocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  CD40 expression on RA synovial monocytes was examined by immunostaining. Involvement of CD40 in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion from RA synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMC) was examined by blocking with anti-CD40 antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD40 was expressed on RA synovial monocytes. TNF-alpha secretion from RA SFMC was enhanced by CD40 ligand stimulation. Spontaneous secretion of TNF-alpha from RA SFMC was inhibited by anti-CD40 antibody.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD40 was involved in the activation of RA synovial monocytes that leads to TNF-alpha production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sekine
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yagita
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyasaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okumura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000494:pharmacology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha