Synovial fluid-derived T helper 17 cells correlate with inflammatory activity in arthritis, irrespectively of diagnosis.
We analyzed peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) mononuclear cells from 16 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 9 spondyloarthritis (SpA), 3 microcrystal arthritis patients, to define the presence of Th17 and Th1 and their relationship with inflammatory activity, and TCR-zeta chain and ZAP-70 levels. Th17 were significantly higher in SF than in PB and more abundant in microcrystal arthritis patients compared to the other groups. Irrespectively of the diagnosis, SF Th17 percentages correlated with joint (SF total leukocyte count, neutrophil percentage) and systemic (C reactive protein [CRP], fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate) inflammation markers. SF Th1 percentages directly correlated with inflammation and disease activity (CRP, swollen joint count [SJC]) indices in SpA, but not in RA patients. These observations support the role of Th17 in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritides. The TCR-zeta(dim) lymphocytes in SF were found to produce the highest amounts of cytokines including IL-17, whereas no ZAP-70 impairment was associated to Th17.
Department of Rheumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, CIC, Via Moscati 31, 00168, Rome, Italy.
Gaetano
G
Zizzo
Maria
M
De Santis
Silvia Laura
SL
Bosello
Anna Laura
AL
Fedele
Giusy
G
Peluso
Elisa
E
Gremese
Barbara
B
Tolusso
GianFranco
G
Ferraccioli
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C054979:antigen T cell receptor, zeta chain; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase