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Thrombin receptor expression in rheumatoid and osteoarthritic synovial tissue
R Morris1, P G Winyard, L F Brass
1Inflammation Research Group, St Bartholomew's, London, United Kingdom.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|November 1, 1996
Summary
Synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis joints express thrombin receptors, suggesting thrombin plays a role in inflammatory joint disease. Osteoarthritis and normal joints showed minimal receptor expression, highlighting differences in disease pathology.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Thrombin is a key enzyme in coagulation.
- Its role in chronic inflammatory joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis is not fully understood.
- Synovial cells are critical components of the joint lining and are implicated in inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if synovial cells in inflamed human joints respond to thrombin.
- To detect the presence of thrombin receptors on synovial cells using immunohistochemistry.
Main Methods:
- Frozen synovial membrane sections from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and normal controls were analyzed.
- Immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody against the human thrombin receptor was employed.
- Double staining was performed to identify receptors and non-specific esterase, a marker for certain immune cells.
Main Results:
- Thrombin receptor-positive cells were identified in rheumatoid arthritis synovia.
- Some of these cells also stained positive for non-specific esterase.
- In contrast, osteoarthritic and normal synovial tissues exhibited very few cells expressing thrombin receptors.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that thrombin may be involved in the pathological processes of chronic inflammatory joint diseases.
- Synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis express thrombin receptors, indicating a potential mechanism for thrombin's action in the inflamed joint.