Demonstration of mast cell chemotactic activity in synovial fluid from rheumatoid patients

Ann Rheum Dis. 2001 Mar;60(3):187-93. doi: 10.1136/ard.60.3.187.

Abstract

Objectives: The significance of the mast cell in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases has become more evident. Although mast cell hyperplasia is a feature of rheumatoid arthritis, the nature of mast cell chemoattractants involved in the recruitment of mast cells in joint diseases has not been studied in any detail. In this study the presence of mast cell chemotactic activity in synovial fluids was examined.

Methods: Synovial fluids from seven rheumatoid patients were tested in a modified Boyden chamber, where a human mast cell line was used as responder. The presence of stem cell factor (SCF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: Six of the seven synovial fluids tested exhibited mast cell chemotactic activity. Two characterised human mast cell chemotaxins, SCF and TGFbeta, were highly expressed in the synovium. Soluble SCF could be detected in all fluids analysed. Blocking antibodies against SCF or TGFbeta almost completely blocked the activity in one fluid, partially blocked the activity in three, and did not affect the activity in two. Treatment of the responder cells with pertussis toxin reduced the migratory response against seven fluids, indicating the presence of chemoattractants mediating their effect through G(i) coupled receptors.

Conclusion: These data demonstrate the presence of multiple factors in synovial fluid acting as mast cell chemoattractants, two of which are SCF and TGFbeta that contribute to the effect. These findings may be of importance for developing new strategies to inhibit mast cell accumulation in rheumatic diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Blocking / physiology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / physiology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / physiopathology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemotaxis / physiology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Male
  • Mast Cells / physiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pertussis Toxin
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Stem Cell Factor / analysis
  • Stem Cell Factor / immunology
  • Synovial Fluid / cytology*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / analysis
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / immunology
  • Virulence Factors, Bordetella / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Blocking
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Stem Cell Factor
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Virulence Factors, Bordetella
  • Pertussis Toxin