Stimulation of the hyaluronic acid levels of human synovial fibroblasts by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor α, tumor necrosis factor β (lymphotoxin), interleukin-1α, and interleukin-1β

✍ Scribed by Debra M. Butler; Gerard F. Vitti; Tali Leizer; John A. Hamilton

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 873 KB
• Volume: 31
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0004-3591
• DOI: 10.1002/art.1780311010

✦ Synopsis

Monocyte/macrophage polypeptides (monokines) alter the properties of synovial cells. This interaction could explain some of the properties of the inflamed synovium in rheumatic disease. Only recently has it been possible to test the action of purified monokines on the target synovial cells. We report here that recombinant human tumor necrosis factor a, tumor necrosis factor p (Lymphotoxin), interleukin-lcu, and interleukinlp stimulate the hyaluronic acid (HA) levels of human synovial fibroblast-like cells. The effect of monokines was generally inhibited by indomethacin, suggesting the involvement of an endogenous cyclooxygenase product in the stimulation, and by the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone. In contrast, all-trans-retinoic acid stimulated synovial cell plasminogen activator activity but did not increase the HA levels. These findings could help to explain the raised HA levels found in the joint fluids and in the circulation of patients with rheumatic disease.

It is widely believed that the damage occurring in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and related diseases depends largely on pathologic changes in the synovial tissue. These changes probably arise from an immune response to an unidentified antigen, a consequence of which could be the modu-From the