Ann Rheum Dis 2001;60:561-565 ( June )

Extended report

Analysis of the cell infiltrate and expression of matrix metalloproteinases and granzyme B in paired synovial biopsy specimens from the cartilage-pannus junction in patients with RA T J M Smeets^a, M C Kraan^a, S Galjaard^b, P P Youssef^c, M D Smith^d, P P Tak^a

^a Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, ^b Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands, ^c Department of Pathology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, ^d Rheumatology Research Unit, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, SA, Australia

Correspondence to: T J M Smeets, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands T.J.Smeets{at}amc.uva.nl

Accepted for publication 17 November 2000

OBJECTIVESExamination of synovial tissue (ST) obtained at surgery because of end stage destructive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) showed that macrophages and fibroblasts are the major cell types at the cartilage-pannus junction (CPJ). This study aimed at defining the cell infiltrate and mediators of joint destruction in ST selected at arthroscopy from the CPJ in patients with RA who did not require joint surgery.
METHODSPaired synovial biopsy specimens were obtained at arthroscopy from ST adjacent to the CPJ and the suprapatellar pouch from the knee joints of 17 patients with RA. Immunohistological analysis was performed using monoclonal antibodies to detect T cells, B cells, plasma cells, macrophages, fibroblast-like synoviocytes, mast cells, and granzyme B+ cytotoxic cells as well as the expression of metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13. The sections were evaluated by computer assisted image analysis and semiquantitative analysis.
RESULTSThe cell infiltrate comprised mainly T cells, macrophages, and plasma cells. The ST was also infiltrated by the other cell types, but at lower numbers. Expression of MMPs was abundant, especially MMP-3. The features of ST at the CPJ were generally similar to those at the suprapatellar pouch.
CONCLUSIONSThe synovium at the CPJ in patients with RA who did not require joint surgery exhibits, in general, the same type of cell infiltrate and expression of MMPs and granzymes as ST from the suprapatellar pouch. The pathological changes that have been described at the CPJ in patients with RA with end stage, destructive disease may well reflect the transition to a process in which macrophages, fibroblast-like synoviocytes, and other cell types become increasingly important.

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© 2001 by Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
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