Rheumatoid factor and monosodium urate crystal-neutrophil interactions in gouty inflammation

A monolayer system was designed to study the interactions between human neutrophils and monosodium urate crystals important in gouty inflammation. The effects of rheumatoid factor on gouty inflammation were then examined in this system and in patients with acute gouty arthritis. Monosodium urate crystal phagocytosis was apparent at 30 min, and this phagocytosis was accompanied by lysosomal enzyme release and decreased neutrophil adherence to plastic petri dishes. Rheumatoid factor did not affect phagocytosis, adherence, or lactic dehydrogenase release and appeared to variably enhance lysosomal enzyme release. Two of 19 acute gouty patients were found to have low titers of rheumatoid factor and, of these, one exhibited mild disease and the other tophaceous destructive disease.