High in vivo expression of interleukin-17 receptor in synovial endothelial cells and chondrocytes from arthritis patients.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the presence of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and the expression of IL-17 receptor (IL-17R) in joint tissues from subjects with different arthritides.

METHODS:

Immunohistochemistry was used on frozen synovial and cartilage biopsies to identify cells expressing IL-17 and IL-17R.

RESULTS:

IL-17 staining was present only in synovial biopsies of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (seven out of nine cases). IL-17R was expressed by all synovial biopsies evaluated except for three cases of post-traumatic arthritis (PTA). Vascular endothelial cells mainly expressed IL-17R. The percentage of IL-17R(+) vessels was the highest in RA synovium and the lowest in PTA. Chondrocytes from all types of arthritides were negative for IL-17 staining, but expressed IL-17R; the highest percentage of positive chondrocytes was found in seronegative spondylarthritis and the lowest in RA.

CONCLUSIONS:

IL-17-positive cells are found exclusively in RA. On the other hand, synovial endothelial cells and chondrocytes expressing IL-17R are found in the majority of patients with different types of arthritis. This finding suggests a role for a second ligand for IL-17R, which could be either a different cytokine or a different isoform of IL-17.

• Authors: M C Honorati, R Meliconi, L Pulsatelli, S Canè, L Frizziero, A Facchini
• Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford, England) (Rheumatology (Oxford)) Vol. 40 Issue 5 Pg. 522-7 (May 2001) ISSN: 1462-0324 [Print] England
• PMID: 11371660 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD
• Receptors, Interleukin-7

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antigens, CD (metabolism)
• Arthritis (metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Count
• Chondrocytes (metabolism, pathology)
• Endothelium, Vascular (metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Receptors, Interleukin-7 (metabolism)
• Synovial Membrane (blood supply, metabolism, pathology)