Expression of the CD44 variant isoform 5 in the human osteoarthritic knee joint: correlation with radiological, histomorphological, and biochemical parameters.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to correlate expression of CD44v5 in osteoarthritic synovium, cartilage, and synovial fluid with radiographical, histomorphological, and biochemical data.


METHODS
Cartilage and synovia specimens of 27 patients with osteoarthritis were histomorphologically assessed according to Mankin and Pelletier, respectively. Extended weight-bearing antero-posterior radiographs were evaluated according to Kellgren and Ahlback. Expression of membrane-bound CD44v5 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and levels of soluble CD44v5 were determined by ELISA.


RESULTS
Expression of CD44v5 in cartilage and synovia was detected in 67% and 59% of the patients, respectively. Immunohistochemical findings in cartilage correlated significantly with structural cartilage changes (p < 0.001), whereas no correlation was found between expression in synovia and inflammatory synovial changes. Additionally, no relationship was evident between CD44v5 expression and radiographical data, but expression in cartilage and synovium was significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.04). Surprisingly, expression of CD44v5 in both cartilage and synovia was negatively correlated with synovial fluid levels of TNFalpha (p < 0.03 and p < 0.02, respectively), and no association was evident with levels of IL-1beta.


CONCLUSIONS
The data demonstrate expression of CD44v5 in osteoarthritic cartilage and synovia, probably independent of joint inflammation. But more importantly, expression of this receptor variant in cartilage seems to be strongly related to the degree of cartilage destruction.
Fuchs
Susanne
S
Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33, D-48129 Muenster, Germany. fuchssu@uni-muenster.de
Dankbar
Berno
B
Wildenau
Gunnar
G
Goetz
Werner
W
Lohmann
Christoph H
CH
Tibesku
Carsten O
CO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001175:Arthrography; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
C113800:CD44v5 antigen; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha