TELOMERASE ACTIVITY IN RHEUMATOID SYNOVIUM CORRELATES WITH THE MONONUCLEAR CELL INFILTRATION LEVEL AND DISEASE AGGRESSIVENESS OF RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Objective. To determine whether the presence of telomerase activity in synovial tissues could provide insights into the pathogenesis of rheu matoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Synovial tissue samples obtained from patients with RA or osteoarthritis !OA) were examined for telomerase a ctivity using the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP). Resu lts, Telomerase activity was detected in over half the RA synovial tis sues (14/25, 56%) but in no CA synovial tissue samples (0/15). Telomer ase activity was detected in the mononuclear cells isolated from telom erase-positive RA synovial tissue, but not in cultured adherent cells, In RA synovial tissue with positive telomerase activity mononuclear c ell infiltration levels were increased (p < 0.001). In addition, patie nts with RA with positive telomerase activity had undergone joint oper ations at an earlier age (p = 0.030) and more often (p = 0.023) compar ed to those without telomerase activity. Conclusion. Telomerase activi ty in RA synovial tissue is likely derived from infiltrating mononucle ar cells and may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE. Clinically, th e presence of telomerase activity in RA may be an indicator of a more aggressive phenotype.