Removal of hyaline articular cartilage reduces lymphocyte infiltration andactivation in rheumatoid synovial membrane

Objective. To analyze the effect of removal of hyaline articular cartilage on synovial membrane pathology in chronic arthritis. Methods. Synovial membrane samples were obtained from patients with rheumat oid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis in association with total hip arthr oplasty, either primary or revision surgery. Synovial membrane histopatholo gy was assessed by immunochemical staining and morphometry. Results. CD68 positive macrophages were common in revision synovial membran es. In contrast, T lymphocytes were much more common in primary rheumatoid synovial membranes (p < 0.001). Many T lymphocytes in primary synovial memb rane were HLA-D/DR positive (p < 0.001) and interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) positive (p <less than> 0.001) and contained interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma; p < 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta; p < 0.001). In contrast , revision synovial membranes from patients with chronic arthritis containe d only a few HLA-D/DR positive T cells and practically no IL-2R, IFN-gamma, or TNF-beta positive activated T lymphocytes. Conclusion. The components of hyaline articular cartilage may be the source of autoantigen responsible for perpetuation of chronic arthritides.