Synovial giant cells in rheumatoid arthritis: expression of cystatin C, but not of cathepsin B.
This study was designed to investigate the expression of the matrix degrading proteinase cathepsin B and its endogenous inhibitor cystatin C in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with special regard to multinucleated synovial giant cells (SGC). We applied an immunohistochemical double-labeling technique. SGC strongly expressed cystatin C and CD68, but were negative for cathepsin B. This staining pattern occurred in osteoclasts as well. Our findings support the idea that in RA matrix destruction by cathepsin B is not mediated by SGC or osteoclasts, but by mononuclear synoviocytes.
Hansen
T
T
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Institute for Pathology, Germany.
Petrow
P K
PK
Gaumann
A
A
Keyszer
G
G
Bräuer
R
R
Kriegsmann
J
J
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology
C525030:CST3 protein, human; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D002401:Cathepsin B