In situ hybridisation using maspin-specific probes, and immunohistochemical double labelling using anti-CD3 and anti-CD68 antibodies was performed on synovial tissue sections.* Western blotting using specific anti-maspin antibodies and protein extracts from cultured SF.†
| Maspin expression | Rheumatoid arthritis | Osteoarthritis | Normal synovial tissue | Positive control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Eight patients with RA, two patients with OA, one normal control, and healthy prostate tissue were studied; †seven patients with RA, four patients with OA, one normal synovial tissue sample. and one healthy breast tissue (control) were used. | ||||
| ND, not done. | ||||
| Tissue expression (mRNA, in situ hybridisation) | + | + | + | + (normal prostate tissue) |
| Tissue localisation (mRNA, in situ hybridisation) | Lining/sublining, perivascular invasion site | Lining/sublining | Lining/sublining | Prostate glands |
| Cell type in synovial tissue (double labelling in situ hybridisation, immunohistochemistry) | CD3/CD68 negative SF; mono-/multinucleated cells | ND | ND | Epithelial cells |
| Cell type at invasion site into cartilage (mRNA, in situ hybridisation)) | CD68 positive/CD68 negative cells | ND | ND | ND |
| Cultured synovial cells (mRNA, in situ hybridisation) | + | + | ND | ND |
| Cultured synovial cells (protein, western blot) | + | + | (+) | + (normal breast tissue) |