title: Soluble CD21 in sera and synovial fluid of arthritic patients.
abstract: Soluble CD21 (sCD21) is the ectodomain of the CD21 glycoprotein released by shedding from the cellular membrane. The ectodomain of CD21 is capable of binding complement fragments, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and CD23. Functionally sCD21 can activate monocytes and abrogate B-cell/follicular dendritic cell interaction, thereby inhibiting antibody production by antigen primed B cells. Levels of sCD21 vary in several clinical conditions. Here we analyzed sCD21 in synovial fluids and sera in arthritic patients. sCD21 concentrations were consistently lower in synovial fluids compared to paired sera samples from the same patients. In contrast to healthy donors, sCD21 levels are significantly reduced in rheumatoid arthritis patient's sera. Potential causes and consequences of the data are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Institute Thurgau, Konstanzerstr. 19, 8274, Tägerwilen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grottenthaler
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: von Kempis
authors.forename: Sigune
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldacker
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Illges
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d