DNA mismatch repair enzyme expression in synovial tissue.
BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress in RA synovial tissue can cause DNA damage and suppress the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system in cultured synoviocytes. This mechanism includes two enzyme complexes, hMutSalpha (hMSH2/hMSH6) and hMutSbeta (hMSH2/hMSH3).


OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression and distribution of MMR enzymes in synovial tissues from patients with arthritis and from normal subjects.


METHODS
Synovial tissues from patients with RA, osteoarthritis (OA), or normal subjects were analysed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies to hMSH2, hMSH3, and hMSH6. MMR protein expression was evaluated by computer assisted digital image analysis.


RESULTS
hMSH2, hMSH3, and hMSH6 were found in most synovial tissues evaluated, with greater levels in the intimal lining than sublining regions. In RA and OA, sublining perivascular staining for hMSH6 and hMSH3 was also prominent. Significantly higher sublining expression of hMSH2, hMSH3, and hMSH6 was seen in RA and OA than in normal synovium. Double label immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the main cells expressing MMR enzymes were CD68(+) and CD68(-) cells in the intimal lining.


CONCLUSIONS
DNA MMR enzyme expression is greatest in the synovial intimal lining layer, where maximal oxidative stress in RA occurs. Although MMR enzyme expression is greater in RA than in normal tissue, this compensatory response cannot overcome the genotoxic environment, and DNA damage accumulates.
Simelyte
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Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0656, USA.
Boyle
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Firestein
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D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D020137:Base Pair Mismatch / Q000235:genetics*; D004260:DNA Repair; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein; D000074081:MutS Homolog 3 Protein; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000201:enzymology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C094443:G-T mismatch-binding protein; C078444:MSH3 protein, human; D000074081:MutS Homolog 3 Protein; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C497172:MSH2 protein, human; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes