Enhanced and coordinated in vivo expression of inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide synthase by chondrocytes from patients with osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the sites of expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in patients with inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases.


METHODS
Cytokines and iNOS were detected by immunohistochemistry analysis of synovial and cartilage biopsy specimens obtained at knee arthroscopy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), osteoarthritis (OA), and traumatic knee arthritis. Cytokine and iNOS expression was quantified using computerized image analysis.


RESULTS
IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and iNOS were highly expressed by synovial cells (lining layer cells, infiltrating leukocytes, endothelial cells) from patients with inflammatory arthritides and significantly less by synovial cells from patients with OA and traumatic arthritis. In contrast, the latter patients showed high chondrocyte expression of cytokines and iNOS while RA and PsA patients had only minor chondrocyte positivity. In both joint compartments, IL-1beta expression, TNFalpha expression, and iNOS expression were strongly correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
The enhanced and coordinated expression of IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and iNOS by chondrocytes strongly supports the hypothesis that chondrocytes are the major site of production of mediators of inflammation in human OA, thus playing a primary role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Melchiorri
C
C
Istituto Codivilla Putti-Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
Meliconi
R
R
Frizziero
L
L
Silvestri
T
T
Pulsatelli
L
L
Mazzetti
I
I
Borzì
R M
RM
Uguccioni
M
M
Facchini
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II