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Updated: May 25, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Primary Synovial Macrophages and Fibroblasts from Murine Arthritis Tissue
Published on: February 24, 2023
Proteins related to the functions of fibroblast-like synoviocytes identified by proteomic analysis
Hui Zhang1, Lie Ying Fan, Ming Zong
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shangai East Hospital, Tong Ji University, Shanghai, China.
Objectives:
It is well known that the fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play a key role in pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study was performed to separate the differentially expressed proteins of FLS from the patients with RA or osteoarthritis (OA) by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), and found proteins associated with the functions of FLS by mass spectrometry (MS).
Methods:
Total proteins were extracted and quantified from the primary cultured FLS from patients of RA (n=8) or OA (n=6). Proteins were separated by high-resolution 2-DE, and identified the differentially expressed proteins by MS. Western blot analyses was used to validated the expression of candidate proteins. The mRNA of these proteins was detected by semi-quantitative fluorescent PCR.
Results:
There are 1147 protein spots from RA and 1324 protein spots from OA showed on 2-DE graphs, respectively. We have selected 84 protein spots for MS analysis, and 27 protein spots were successfully identified. We have found that protein isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT) and pirin (iron-binding nuclear protein, PIR) with lower expression in RA, and thioredoxin 1(Trx-1) only expressed in RA may be associated with functions of FLS. Western Blot confirmed the expression of PIMT and pirin lower in RA, and Trx-1 expressed only in RA. The results of semi-quantitative fluorescent PCR are also consistent with 2-DE graphs.
Conclusions:
PIMT, pirin and Trx-1 affect the functions of FLS in some style and can be the drug targets of RA.
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