Intraarticular variability of synovial membrane histology, immunohistology, and cytokine mRNA expression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the variability of synovial histology, immunohistology, and cytokine mRNA expression at different sites within the knee joints of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis receiving slow acting antirheumatic drugs. The effects of intraarticular bupivacaine and adrenaline, and a comparison of synovial fluid cell and synovial membrane cytokine expression, were also investigated.


METHODS
Arthroscopically directed synovial biopsies were taken at 3 or 4 predetermined sites from the knee joints of 11 patients. Histology for synovial lining layer, sublining cellularity and vascularity, and immunohistology for T cells, T cell subsets, and macrophages were assessed. Messenger RNA expression of interleukins 1beta, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma was detected using the reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction technique.


RESULTS
Synovial histology, immunohistology, and cytokine mRNA expression did not vary significantly. CD8 cell immunohistology was variable. Intraarticular bupivacaine and adrenaline did not change synovial characteristics. Synovial fluid cell and membrane cytokine expression did not match in 35% of comparisons.


CONCLUSIONS
Biopsies from the suprapatellar pouch, medial gutter, and cartilage-pannus junction will provide a representative sample of synovial membrane pathology in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Kirkham
B
B
Rheumatology Department, St. George Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. b.kirkham@unsw.edu.au
Portek
I
I
Lee
C S
CS
Stavros
B
B
Lenarczyk
A
A
Lassere
M
M
Edmonds
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002045:Bupivacaine; D004837:Epinephrine