[Technic for isolation and culture of macrophages from human synovial fluid]

Macrophages from synovial fluid were obtained by joint puncture of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or non-rheumatoid exudative arthropathies. This fluid was subsequently centrifuged and the resulting cell pellet was recovered and distributed for in vitro culture (Falcon Petri dishes: 60 x 15 or 35 x 10). Cells were washed after 4 hours in culture to eliminate non-macrophagic cells. A second cell wash was effected 24 hours later to eliminate non-adherent cells. The culture medium employed was fetal calf serum MMP 119 (Gibco). The macrophagic nature of the cultured cells was ascertained by non specific esterase determinations (Burstone method) and estimation of the phagocytic index (using zymosan). This technique permits the conservation of viable monocytes in culture thus facilitating investigation of their metabolic activity (for example: prostaglandins, prostanoids or fatty acids) and the effects of anti-inflammatory agents.