Light microscopic characterization of the fibroblast-like synovial intimal cell (synoviocyte)

✍ Scribed by Linda S. Wilkinson; Andrew A. Pitsillides; Jennifer G. Worrall; Jo C. W. Edwards

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 576 KB
• Volume: 35
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0004-3591
• DOI: 10.1002/art.1780351010

✦ Synopsis

Objective:

To reassess synovial intimal cell populations by light microscopy.

Methods:

Non-inflamed, rheumatoid and osteoarthritic synovia were analyzed as tissue sections and cytospin preparations by a series of combined immunohistochemical and cytochemical staining techniques.

Results:

Two populations of intimal cells were identified. the first carried macrophage markers. the second showed high uridine diphosphoglucose dehydrogenase (udpgd) activity, minimal cytoplasmic cd68, absent non-specific esterase (nse) activity, and absent leukocyte and endothelial antigens. the majority of these cells showed a high content of prolyl hydroxylase.

Conclusion:

Combined cytochemical staining for nse and udpgd activity allows effective separation of intimal cell populations. we suggest that the cells of high udpgd activity are the fibroblast-like or type b synovial intimal cells defined by electron microscopy. high udpgd activity probably reflects a preferential ability to synthesize glycosaminoglycans, including hyaluronan.