title: Expression of chemokines and matrix metalloproteinases in early rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare macrophage infiltration and expression of chemokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in synovial tissue between patients with early and long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Knee synovial biopsies were taken from 22 patients with early (<1 yr) and 22 patients with long-standing (>5 yr) RA and immunostained with antibodies specific for CD68; macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1; MMP-1 and -3 and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-l and -2. Immunostaining was quantified using a colour video image analysis system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD68+ macrophage infiltration and the expression of MIP-1alpha, MCP-1, MMP-1, MMP-3, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were observed in synovial tissue of patients with early RA. In long-standing RA, there was a further increase in CD68+ macrophage infiltration and MIP-1alpha expression in the synovial lining layer. CD68 expression correlated with MIP-1alpha (R=0.39, P=0.01), but not with MCP-1 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Macrophage accumulation, and the expression of chemokines and MMPs in synovial tissue occur in early RA. Targeting chemokines which play a role in the migration of macrophages into the joints may be of therapeutic benefit in RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, Inflammation Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katrib
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Tak
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Bertouch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cuello
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smeets
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kraan
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Youssef
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D018925:Chemokines; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule