CLONING OF COLLAGENASE 3 FROM THE SYNOVIAL-MEMBRANE AND ITS EXPRESSION IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS

Objective. To analyze synovial membrane of patients with rheumatoid ar thritis (RA) for the expression of unknown matrix metalloproteinases ( MMP). Methods. Degenerate oligonucleotides corresponding to highly con served regions of the MMP gene Family and the rapid amplification of c DNA ends (RACE) method have been used to search for new members of thi s gene family. MMP gene expression has been characterized by Northern blot analysis. Results. We cloned a MMP cDNA from the synovial membran e that is completely identical to the recently published collagenase 3 cDNA derived from a human breast cancer cDNA library (Freije, et al: J Biol Chem 1994;269:16766-73). Collagenase 3 is expressed in parallel with interstitial collagenase and stromelysin 1 in RA and osteoarthri tis (OA). Collagenase 3 gene expression was not detected in several no rmal human tissues. Conclusion. The expression of collagenase 3 in the synovial membrane in RA and OA suggests its involvement in articular tissue degradation.