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Adherence of rheumatoid polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) to cultured endothelial cell monolayers
Abstract:
Blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) from 40 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 40 normal subjects were incubated with confluent cultures of porcine aortic endothelium and their adherence assessed by either a microscopic or radiometric enumeration assay. There was no difference between the number of rheumatoid and control PMNs adhering. The synovial fluid PMNs from patients with RA were less adherent than their paired blood samples when autologous serum was present in the incubation medium and more adherent when serum was absent. Most of the RA sera tested inhibited the adhesion of normal PMNs, an effect that was not due to an increase in PMN aggregation. A similar inhibition was seen with sera obtained from patients with Felty's syndrome. These findings suggest that there is no intrinsic difference between the adhesiveness of rheumatoid PMNs and normal PMNs but that there are soluble factors present in RA serum which inhibit the attachment of normal PMNs to vascular endothelium.
Insights
Rheumatoid arthritis patients' polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) show no intrinsic adhesion differences. However, rheumatoid arthritis serum contains factors that inhibit normal PMN adhesion to endothelium.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting joints.
- Polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) play a role in RA pathogenesis.
- Endothelial cell adhesion is a critical step in inflammatory cell migration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the adherence properties of PMNs from RA patients.
- To determine the influence of RA serum on PMN-endothelial cell interactions.
- To explore potential soluble factors in RA serum affecting PMN adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Collected blood PMNs from 40 RA patients and 40 healthy controls.
- Incubated PMNs with porcine aortic endothelium using microscopic and radiometric assays.
- Assessed PMN adherence in the presence and absence of autologous serum.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in adherence was observed between RA and control PMNs.
- Synovial fluid PMNs from RA patients showed altered adherence compared to blood PMNs.
- RA sera significantly inhibited normal PMN adhesion to endothelium, independent of PMN aggregation.
Conclusions:
- There is no intrinsic defect in the adhesiveness of rheumatoid arthritis PMNs.
- Soluble factors in RA serum can impair normal PMN attachment to vascular endothelium.
- These findings highlight the role of serum factors in modulating inflammatory cell behavior in RA.