A. Cauli et al., INTERLEUKIN-1, INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST AND MACROPHAGE POPULATIONS IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS SYNOVIAL-MEMBRANE, British journal of rheumatology, 36(9), 1997, pp. 935-940
To determine whether interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-1 receptor a
ntagonist (IL-1ra) are produced by different macrophage subsets, we ap
plied immunoperoxidase and double-labelling immunofluorescence techniq
ues to 10 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 10 osteoarthritis (OA) synovia
l membranes. In RA, greater numbers of early 27E10+ macrophages were f
ound in the sublining layer while mature 25F9+ macrophages were more a
bundant in the lining layers. The majority of IL-1 alpha+ cells were a
lso IL-1ra+ (79 +/- 12% sublining layer, 98 +/- 2% lining layer). In O
A sublining layer, a higher percentage of cells double stained for 25F
9 and IL-1ra was detected compared to those double stained for 25F9 an
d IL-1 alpha (P < 0.004). In OA, 25F9+ macrophages demonstrated a lowe
r percentage of IL-1 alpha+ in the lining and sublining layers compare
d to RA (P < 0.02 and P < 0.004, respectively). It may be concluded th
at once monocytes have migrated into the RA joint, they undergo phenot
ypic and functional changes from an early profile (27E10+, CD14+, low
percentage of IL-1+ and IL-1ra+ cells) to a mature profile (CD14+/-, 2
5F9+, RM3/1+, high percentage of IL-1+ and IL-1ra+ cells).