Synovial stromal cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients attract monocytes by producing MCP-1 and IL-8

Macrophages that accumulate in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis patient s play an important role in the pathogenesis of this inflammatory disease. However, the mechanism by which macrophages are attracted into the inflamed synovium and accumulate there has not been completely delineated. The resu lts of this study show that rheumatoid arthritis synovial stromal cells pro duce the chemokines monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and IL-8, and these have the capacity to attract peripheral monocytes. These results suggest that o ne of the mechanisms by which macrophages accumulate in the inflamed synovi um is by responding to the chemokines produced locally.