Macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha expression by synovial fluid neutrophils in rheumatoid arthritis

To determine the contribution made by synovial fluid (SF) neutrophils to the augmented expression of macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1alpha) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Neutrophils were isolated from samples of SF from RA patients and peripheral blood (PB) samples from RA patients and healthy controls. Cell associated MIP-1alpha was visualised immunohistochemically, and cell associated MIP-1alpha as well as MIP-1alpha secreted into the SF was assayed by ELISA. Steady state expression of MIP-1alpha mRNA was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Freshly isolated SF neutrophils contained significantly higher concentrations of both MIP-1alpha protein and its transcript than PB neutrophils from either RA patients or healthy controls; incubation in the absence or presence of tumour necrosis factor alpha for 24 hours resulted in a significant increase in MIP-1alpha secretion by RA SF neutrophils compared with neutrophils obtained from either normal PB or RA PB; and expression of MIP-1alpha by SF neutrophils was well correlated with both RA disease activity and SF mononuclear cell (MNC) counts.

Expression and secretion of MIP-1alpha by SF neutrophils may be indicative of local and systemic inflammation in RA. Moreover, this C-C chemokine may contribute to the recruitment of MNCs from the bloodstream into synovial joints and tissues.