Article Text
Abstract
OBJECTIVES (1)To analyse the in situ expression of adhesion molecules in rheumatoid nodules. (2) To compare the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules in synovial tissue and subcutaneous nodules obtained from the same patients. (3) To compare the expression of adhesion molecules and activation markers on T cell lines from nodules and synovium.
METHODS (1) Immunohistochemical analysis by APAAP technique of E selectin, CD44, ICAM-1, PECAM-1, and VCAM-1 was performed on 10 rheumatoid nodules from seven patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); nodules and synovium were simultaneously analysed from three patients. (2) T cell lines were generated from RA nodules (n=7) and synovium (n=7) by interleukin 2 expansion, and subsequently characterised by flow cytometry for surface expression of αEβ7, α4β7, CD44, L selectin, LFA-1a, PECAM-1, and CD30.
RESULTS (1) In rheumatoid nodules, the palisading layer strongly stains for ICAM-1 and PECAM-1, but less pronounced for CD44. VCAM-1 staining was usually negative. ICAM-1 is upregulated in the vessels surrounding the central zone of fibrinoid necrosis. The immunohistological picture in different nodules derived from the same patient was similar. (2) The endothelial expression of adhesion molecules is comparable in RA nodules and synovium on an individual level, except for E selectin, which is overexpressed in nodule endothelium. (3) T cell lines from nodules and synovium display similar adhesion molecule profiles. However, the expression of CD30, a T cell activation marker linked with Th2 subsets, is higher in nodules compared with synovium.
CONCLUSION These data support a recirculation hypothesis of T cells between articular and extra-articular manifestations in RA, although the activation state of the T cells in each of these localisations may differ.
- T cells
- adhesion molecules
- rheumatoid nodules
- rheumatoid synovium
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by chronic polyarthritis leading to joint destruction. Although the exact pathogenesis of this disease is unknown, a number of observations suggest that CD4+ T lymphocytes play a central part in the induction or perpetuation of the chronic inflammation. These include: the strong linkage of RA with certain class II genes, the infiltration of T cells (predominantly CD4+ T cells) at the primary sites of inflammation, the ability of T cells to transfer the disease in experimental animal models of arthritis, and the clinical benefit of some T cell directed treatments.1-5 Conversely, it has been postulated that synovitis is maintained by autocrine and paracrine pathways involving macrophages and fibroblasts.6 ,7 In an attempt to reconcile both apparently diverse theories on the pathogenesis of RA, a new model has been proposed in which T cells and macrophages/fibroblasts both play a major pathogenic part, albeit, in different phases of the disease.8
Besides the presence of joint inflammation, a number of extra-articular manifestations may also occur in RA such as the formation of rheumatoid nodules, pleuritis, episcleritis, and vasculitic skin lesions. The presence of subcutaneous nodules in para-articular subcutaneous tissue in RA patients is commonly regarded as an extra-articular manifestation in RA, occurring in 20 to 30% of white patients.9 Such nodules typically develop subcutaneously over the extensor site of small and larger joints, but they may also develop in tendons or in visceral organs such as the lungs. Rheumatoid factor is almost always found in high titres in the serum of patients with rheumatoid nodules.10 Histologically, rheumatoid nodules have a granuloma-like structure composed of three zones: an inner zone of central necrosis, a surrounding cellular palisading zone, and an outer area of lymphoid aggregates organised around small vessels.10 ,11 The major proportion of the palisaded cells are macrophages. T cells are found in variable numbers distributed among the macrophages, and more pronounced, in the lymphoid aggregates concentrated around small vessels.
The immune infiltrate in rheumatoid nodules is characterised by a number of interesting features. A significantly oligoclonal outgrowth of T lymphocytes from rheumatoid nodules after interleukin 2 (IL2) expansion has previously been reported by our group, reflecting a clonally restricted T cell activation in situ.12 The dominant T cell receptors (TCRs), assessed by using monoclonal antibodies specific for human TCR variable region gene products, can differ from patient to patient. However, a preferential outgrowth of T cell lines, which express only a distinct TCR family, was observed in different nodules derived from the same patients, even at different time intervals (unpublished observations).12 Furthermore, clonally restricted T cell lines from rheumatoid nodules have been shown to contain highly related CDR3 sequences, strongly suggesting an antigen driven T cell activation in situ.13
The pathogenic mechanism leading to the formation of rheumatoid nodules remains unclear, and the exact immunological relation between joint inflammation and subcutaneous nodules is as yet undefined. A key question is whether the same T cells that mediate the formation of these nodules are also involved in the pathogenesis of arthritis. In favour of this hypothesis is the observation that the same TCR family was found to be overexpressed on certain T cell lines from rheumatoid nodules and rheumatoid synovium, but not of control tissue (unpublished observations). Moreover, T cell lines from rheumatoid nodules showed a preferential in vitro adherence to rheumatoid synovium and rheumatoid nodules, while no binding was observed on control tissues such as skin or tonsil (unpublished observations).
To further explore the origin of the immune infiltrate in subcutaneous nodules and its relation to the synovial inflammation, a comparative study on the expression of an array of adhesion molecules was conducted in both disease manifestations. Adhesion molecules play a critical part in the process of lymphocyte trafficking, and thus in the influx of effector cells into sites of inflammation.14 Such molecules constitute the basis for cell-cell as well as cell-matrix interactions. However, these receptors not only regulate cell migration but may also regulate important functional activities of the cell. In this paper, we report on the in situ expression of E selectin, CD44, ICAM-1, PECAM-1, and VCAM-1 in rheumatoid nodules. In addition, the endothelial expression of E selectin, ICAM-1, PECAM-1, and VCAM-1 was compared in both rheumatoid nodules and synovium derived from the same patients. Finally, cell surface expression of αEβ7, α4β7, CD44, LFA-1α, L selectin, PECAM-1, and CD30 on T cell lines from RA nodules and synovium was analysed by flow cytometry.
Methods
PATIENTS
Nineteen patients with classic RA, according to the ACR criteria15 were entered in the study after giving informed consent. Sixteen rheumatoid nodules were obtained from 13 patients with classic RA. These nodules were removed upon the patient’s request after mechanical irritation or for aesthetical reasons. Rheumatoid synovium was obtained from 10 RA patients during joint replacement for destructive arthrits or by needle arthroscopy of the knee during diagnostic intervention. All but one patient from whom synovial tissue was collected had active peripheral synovitis. The clinical and serological data of the RA patients, from whom rheumatoid nodules and synovium were obtained, are summarised in tables 1 and 2. Clinical characteristics of patients from whom samples were collected for immunohistochemistry are shown in table 1, and those from whom tissue samples were used for T cell expansion are shown in table 2. The rheumatoid nodule obtained from patient DKL was not only used for immunohistochemistry but also for T cell expansion. The clinical data of this patient are only shown in table1.
This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the local Faculty of Medicine.
T LYMPHOCYTE EXPANSION
T cell lines were generated as reported previously.12Briefly, small tissue fragments from rheumatoid nodules and rheumatoid synovium (2 to 5 mm3) were transferred into separate wells on a 24 well culture plate (Gibco, Grand Island, NY) and incubated in RPMI medium (Gibco) containing recombinant IL2 (50 U/ml; Eurogenetic, Belgium), 10% autologous serum, antibiotics (10 U/ml Penicillin-G, 10 U/ml streptomycin sulphate and 0.025 μg amphotericin B) and 0.5%l-glutamine.
A total of 21 lymphocyte cultures of rheumatoid nodules and 17 from rheumatoid synovium were obtained for flow cytometric analysis.
FLOW CYTOMETRIC ANALYSIS
Phenotypical analysis of the lymphocytes was performed using monoclonal antibodies (Mab) conjugated with either fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), phycoerythrin (PE) or peridinin chlorophyll protein (PerCP). Cellular distribution was studied using anti-CD3 (Leu4, clone SK7), -CD4 (Leu3a, clone SK3), and -CD8 (Leu2a, clone SK1) (Becton Dickinson (BD), San Jose, CA, USA). To determine expression of a number of adhesion molecules a panel of Mab directed against the following was used: l-selectin (clone SK11, BD), LFA-1a (CD11a, clone B-B15), PECAM-1(CD31, clone HC 1/6), CD44 (HCAM-1, clone F10442) (Serotec, Oxford, UK), and αEβ7 (CD103, HML-1, clone 2G5, Immunotech). Studies of α4β7 expression were performed by indirect staining with the Act-I Mab (a generous gift from Dr A Lazarovits), as previously described.16 ,17 FITC conjugated goat antimouse IgG Mab (BD) was used as secondary antibody.
Isotype matched immunoglobulins that did not react with human leucocytes were used as controls (BD). Cells were resuspended in 1–5 × 106/ml according to yield. For fluorochrome conjugated Mab stainings, aliquots (100 μl) were incubated with the appropriate amount of Mab (10 μl) in the dark at 4°C for 30 minutes. Cells were washed with 2 ml of phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The cell suspension was mixed gently and centrifuged at 1600 rpm for 10 minutes. Cells were fixed with 500 μl PBS containing 1% paraformaldehyde and stored in the dark at 4°C until analysed.
The surface expression of antigens on the obtained cell lines was determined by quantitative three colour analysis with a FACSort (BD).
Isotype matched controls were used to establish the non-specific staining of the samples and to set the fluorescent markers on the FACSort. Routinely, 10 000 events from each sample were collected. Data were analysed using LYSIS II and Attractors software (BD).
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF FLOW CYTOMETRIC DATA
Values are expressed as % positive cells with median value and range. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare groups. A value of p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY
Parallel sections, 5 μm thick, from rheumatoid nodules and rheumatoid synovium were analysed immunohistochemically using the alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique, as previously described.12 Cryostat sections were fixed in acetone for 10 minutes. Each section was incubated for 30 minutes with optimal concentrations of one of the following monoclonal antibodies: anti-E selectin (anti-CD62E, BBIG-E6, R and D Systems, Abingdon, UK), anti-CD44 (HCAM-1, clone 2C5, R snd D), anti-ICAM-1 (anti-CD54, clone BBIG-I1, R and D), anti-PECAM-1 (anti-CD31, clone 9G11, R and D), and anti-VCAM-1 (anti-CD106, clone BBIG-V1, R and D). After incubation of the primary antibody, the sections were subsequently incubated with rabbit antimouse immunoglobulins (RAM) and APAAP with a repeat of RAM and APAAP for 10 minutes. Samples were then developed using fast red TR substrate as a chromogen. In addition, the sections were briefly counterstained with haematoxylin. Irrelevant isotype matched immunoglobulins were used as controls.
MICROSCOPICAL ANALYSIS
The total area of all stained sections was examined and the expression of the various adhesion molecules was scored independently by two observers. Samples were coded in such a way as to ensure blind scoring. The overall patterns of adhesion molecule distribution in the three layer structure of rheumatoid nodules were evaluated. E selectin, CD44, ICAM-1, PECAM-1, and VCAM-1 staining was scored separately on a 4 point scale, on the palisading layer of histiocytes, on endothelium in close proximity of the central fibrinoid necrosis, and on endothelium at distance from the necrosis. A score of 0 represented absence of staining, while a score of 3 represented the presence of numerous cells expressing these adhesion molecules. A similar score was assigned to the expression of the adhesion molecules on synovial endothelium. Individual readings were identical or differed by only one point. Minor differences between the observers were resolved by mutual agreement.
Results
IN SITU EXPRESSION OF ADHESION MOLECULES IN RHEUMATOID NODULES
Ten rheumatoid nodules from seven different RA patients were analysed immunohistochemically to determine in situ expression of E selectin, CD44, ICAM-1, PECAM-1, and VCAM-1. The majority of these nodules obtained had been present for six months or more: in these established nodules the classically described three layer structure was noted. In one patient (DCH), however, the nodule had only appeared two weeks before removal. This recent onset nodule showed impressive neovascularisation (fig 1), in the absence of fibrinoid necrosis.
The palisading layer of histiocytes strongly stained for ICAM-1 and PECAM-1, and less pronounced CD44, as shown in figure 2. VCAM-1 staining was usually negative, except in one patient (fig 2E).
Table 3 shows the in situ expression of the various tested adhesion molecules. The expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E selectin, on endothelium from rheumatoid nodules displayed focal and segmental variation (fig 3 and 4). In contrast, the endothelial expression of PECAM-1 was constitutive. No endothelial staining with anti-CD44 was observed.
The endothelial expression of ICAM-1 was most abundant in areas that directly surround the central zone of fibrinoid necrosis. Moreover, E selectin staining on endothelium correlated with the duration of the nodules with an upregulation being observed in early onset nodules. Endothelial staining for VCAM-1 was generally weak.
In one patient, four different nodules were simultaneously obtained. Interestingly, similar immunohistochemical pictures were obtained from these different nodules, as shown in table4.
No obvious differences could be documented between nodules induced by either treatment with methotrexate or from those in patients with other disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD).
IN SITU EXPRESSION OF ADHESION MOLECULES ON ENDOTHELIUM IN RHEUMATOID NODULES AND SYNOVIAL TISSUE DERIVED FROM THE SAME PATIENTS
In addition to the immunohistological study of adhesion molecule expression in rheumatoid nodules, another objective in this investigation, was to compare the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules in both rheumatoid nodules and synovial tissue within the same patients. In three of seven RA patients from whom rheumatoid nodules were obtained for immunohistological analysis, synovial tissue could also be obtained during joint replacement surgery. As shown in figures 3, 4, and 5, the endothelial expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and PECAM-1 was very similar within the same patient. In contrast, E selectin expression was higher in rheumatoid nodules versus synovial tissue.
EXPRESSION OF ADHESION MOLECULES ON T CELL LINES FROM RHEUMATOID NODULES AND RHEUMATOID SYNOVIUM
In total, 38 T cell lines were generated from the rheumatoid nodules (n=21) and rheumatoid synovium (n=17) of patients included in this study. These T cell lines were almost exclusively CD4 positive in both rheumatoid nodules (fraction CD3+CD4+/CD3+: median: 99.5%; range: 98.4–100) and rheumatoid synovium (fraction CD3+CD4+/CD3+: median: 97.8%; range: 65.1–100). Table 5 shows the expression of the various adhesion molecules and activation markers on CD4+ T cell subsets. As the CD8+ T cells were virtually absent in rheumatoid nodules and rheumatoid synovium, only the expression on CD4+ T cells is demonstrated.
The expression of αEβ7, α4β7, CD44, L selectin, LFA-1α, and PECAM-1, was found to be similar in rheumatoid nodules and synovium. However, the expression of CD30, a T cell activation marker linked with T helper 2 subsets, was found to be overexpressed in rheumatoid nodules, compared with rheumatoid synovium (p<0.05; table 5).
Discussion
This study focuses on the expression of adhesion molecules and activation markers in rheumatoid nodules and rheumatoid synovium, to further characterise the immune infiltrate in rheumatoid nodules and its relation to the synovial inflammation.
The expression of adhesion molecules on T cell lines generated from rheumatoid nodules and rheumatoid synovium, as determined by flow cytometry, was found to be similar in both sites, as was the CD4/CD8 distribution. Noteworthy is the finding that analogous experiments in other diseases (synovium from patients with spondyloarthropathy) or other tissues (ileum or colon) generated distinct results (unpublished observations).
The endothelial ligands of a number of these molecules were studied in both rheumatoid nodules and synovium of the same patients. The expression of PECAM-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 was found to be similar in both locations, although the levels of expression could differ from patient to patient. Conversely, E selectin expression was found to be higher in rheumatoid nodules, compared with rheumatoid synovium. This could be consistent with a role for E selectin in preferential recruitment of inflammatory cells to rheumatoid nodules. In support of this hypothesis is the finding that the highest levels of E selectin expression were found in early onset rheumatoid nodules. However, it should be borne in mind that only a limited number of adequate synovial tissue samples could be obtained from patients from whom the nodules were also removed, as the opportunities to collect such samples are rare.
Of similar interest was the finding that the immunohistological picture and the levels of expression of adhesion molecules was similar in different nodules derived from the same person.
Within rheumatoid nodules, the expression of ICAM-1, E selectin, and VCAM-1 showed segmental and focal variation, which is a hallmark of inducible cell adhesion molecules. This was not however, the case for PECAM-1, which stains endothelial cells constitutively. An interesting finding was the higher endothelial expression of ICAM-1 that was found in close proximity to the central zone of fibrinoid necrosis. This is also the area where the palisading layer of histiocytes is situated. The upregulation of ICAM-1 in this zone may therefore be induced by cytokines released by macrophages in this region, such as IL1, shown to be abundant in rheumatoid nodules.10 ,18 It seems that other cytokines may be also involved, as the expression of two other IL1 inducible adhesion molecules19-21 did not show such an upregulation. The endothelial expression of VCAM-1 was generally found to be weak and no regional variation of E selectin expression was detected.
In contrast with the T cells and the endothelium from rheumatoid nodules, more data are available on the cells located in the palisading layer. Such cells seem to share some features with synovial intimal cells in that they consist of a dual population of macrophages.10 ,22-24 and fibroblastic cells.24 The fibroblastic cells from rheumatoid nodules differ from the synovial fibroblasts however, in their low expression of VCAM-1, the lack of uridine diphosphoglucose dehydrogenase, and β1 integrin chain expression.24 The exception to this rule was noted in nodules containing central clefts, which were lined with cells showing features of synovial intimal cells. This study confirms the low to absent expression of VCAM-1 on the palisading layer. In contrast, the expression of CD44, ICAM-1, and PECAM-1 was more pronounced.
Finally, the expression of CD30 on T cell lines generated from rheumatoid nodules was found to be higher than on those from rheumatoid synovium. This is of particular interest as CD30 has been linked with T helper 2 subsets.25 CD30 is a T cell activation marker that is preferentially expressed on CD4+ subsets, and is more abundant on CD25 positive than CD25 negative T cell subsets.26 The distinctive expression of CD30 on nodule derived T cells compared with those from the synovium suggests a different functional state of T cells in both manifestations. Although no T cell cytokine profiles in rheumatoid nodules have yet been reported, a number of clinical findings suggest a discrepancy between the presence of extensive extra-articular manifestations and the inflammatory state of the joints.27 In contrast, an explosion of extra-articular activity is often accompanied by a reduction in articular inflammation. This has particularly been reported in patients treated with methotrexate.28
In conclusion, the phenotypical analysis of rheumatoid nodules and rheumatoid synovium showed similar expression of adhesion molecules at both the T lymphocyte and endothelial site, with the exception of E selectin. Expression of this molecule was found to be higher in rheumatoid nodules compared with synovial tissue, suggesting a role in the preferential recruitment of inflammatory cells to rheumatoid nodules. The observed similarities in adhesion molecule expression on T cells from rheumatoid nodules and synovium support a recirculation hypothesis of T cells between both localisations. Additional data supporting this hypothesis are: the overexpression of the same TCR family on certain T cell lines from rheumatoid nodules and rheumatoid synovium, but not of control tissue (unpublished observations) and the preferential in vitro adherence of nodular T cells to rheumatoid synovium and rheumatoid nodules, compared with control tissues (unpublished observations). The activation state of T cells in each of these localisations however, may differ, as T cell lines in rheumatoid nodules showed a higher expression of CD30.
Acknowledgments
We are indebted to Miss J Vermeersch for excellent technical assistance and to Dr D O’Neil for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by NFWO grant 3.0028.95. Dirk Elewaut and Dominique Baeten are NFWO research assistants.