Cellular control of collagen breakdown in rheumatoid arthritis

Ascorbic acid stimulates the resorption of canine articular cartilage induced by a factor derived from activated rabbit macrophages

Articular cartilage explants from the knees of mongrel dogs release 5-10% of their proteoglycan content spontaneously when cultured for 4 days in serum-free modified Bigger's medium. A factor synthesized and secreted by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated rabbit macrophages can stimulate this release of proteoglycan by 2 to 3-fold. The release of proteoglycan in response to macrophage factor is maximal in the presence of 1.5-50 micrograms/ml L-ascorbic acid. In the absence of ascorbate, or with high levels of ascorbate (150 micrograms/ml), the effect of the factor is diminished by 50%. D-isoascorbate, reduced glutathione, or dithiothreitol cannot substitute for L-ascorbate in producing this effect, while dehydroascorbate can.

Histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of the endometrial connective tissue stroma from mice continuously fed diethylstilbestrol

Histochemical and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to examine the endometrial connective tissue stroma of mice continuously fed diethylstilbestrol (DES). Virgin female mice were continuously fed diets containing 0, 320, or 640 ppb DES from 4 weeks of age until moribund. All animals reported on in this study were between 622 to 762 days of age when sacrificed. Light microscopy revealed irregular deposits of homogeneous acidophilic material throughout the connective tissue stroma with frequent accumulations seen immediately beneath the surface epithelial layer and surrounding blood vessels. Histochemical results indicated the presence of collagen and fibrin as components of the acidophilic material. Ultrastructural results revealed a homogeneous stroma consisting of short segments of collagen fibrils enmeshed in an amorphous component. Numerous plasma cells were seen in close approximation to macrophages and lymphocytes. Fibroblast cell membranes exhibited micropinocytotic vesicles. Eosinophils were numerous in the stroma and often seen in close approximation to fibroblast projections. Vascular endothelial layers contained numerous micropinocytotic vesicles and marginal flaps. The accumulation of homogeneous material within the connective tissue stroma may represent products from collagen degradation and a subsequent localized immune response as well as plasma components.

Microinjury to the synovial membrane may cause disaggregation of proteoglycans in rabbit knee joint articular cartilage

Proteoglycans (PGs) isolated from articular cartilage (AC) of mature rabbits subjected to two or more consecutive intraarticular (IA) injections of sterile saline 24 h apart showed an aggregation defect in the presence of excess hyaluronic acid (HA). Although the PG contents of experimental and control cartilages were indistinguishable, a higher proportion of PGs were extractable from the 3 X IA tissues, as assessed by uronic acid analysis. Proteoglycans from experimental and control cartilages when examined by Sepharose CL-2B chromatography showed two subunit populations, the smaller (KAV = 0.70) containing more ketatan sulphate than the larger (KAV = 0.31). Cultures of AC from IA joints released more 35SO4-labelled PGs into the media over 72 h than control tissues and consisted mainly of PG degradation products although 20% could aggregate in the presence of HA. Examination of PG aggregation 2 weeks after 2 X IA or 3 X IA injections showed that the defect initiated was still present; however, cartilage of immature rabbits was not affected by the 2 X IA procedure.

A study of the effects of nabumetone (BRL 14777), a novel anti-inflammatory drug, on cell infiltration into sterile cotton pellets implanted in rats

Nabumetone a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is active in reducing the DNA content of implanted cotton pellets in rats on various dosing regimens. The effect of nabumetone can be seen during the early and late phases of the cellular reaction to the implant implicating effects upon polymorphonuclear leucocytes and monocytes. The levels of two lysosomal enzymes are reduced in the exudate by the drug treatment.

Protease inhibitors in rheumatoid synovial fluid. Analyses of electrophoretic homogeneity and protease inhibitory capacity

Paired plasma and synovial fluids from 17 patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis were examined for electrophoretic homogeneity/heterogeneity and enzymic inhibitory capacity of the protease inhibitors. The high degree of saturation (approximately 90%) of the polyvalent protease inhibitor alpha 2-macroglobulin in the rheumatoid synovial fluid contrasts sharply with the low saturation of alpha 1-anti-trypsin. The inhibitory reactivity of the non-complexed fraction of both of these dominating antiproteases was retained (approximately 85-90%). Thus, a selective inactivation of synovial alpha 1-antitrypsin could not be demonstrated. alpha 1-Anti-chymotrypsin revealed electrophoretic homogeneity in all synovial fluids. Electrophoretic heterogeneity of the plasmin inhibitor antiplasmin was detected in the majority of synovial fluids indicating plasmin activation. The existence of a protease-antiprotease imbalance in the rheumatoid joint was indicated by the high degree of saturation of alpha 2-macroglobulin and a cleavage of C3 in rheumatoid synovial fluids.

The elimination of alpha 2-macroglobulin complexes from the arthritic joint. A clinical study in rheumatoid arthritis

A phagocytic uptake of labeled elastase-alpha 2-macroglobulin complexes by macrophage-like synovial lining cells was demonstrated in rheumatoid arthritics. The appearance and distribution of these phagocytically active cells were similar to those containing immunoreactive alpha 2-macroglobulin. It was concluded that these deposits represented phagocytosed alpha 2-macroglobulin complexes and that the elimination of complexes from the arthritic joint at least partly was effected via local phagocytosis.

Rat mammary carcinoma cells secrete active collagenase and activate latent enzyme in the stroma via plasminogen activator

A spontaneous mammary adenocarcinoma (AC) from an inbred female rat was investigated with regard to secretion of neutral proteases. Cultures of neoplastic epithelial cells derived from the tumour secreted an enzyme that fulfilled the criteria for a specific collagenase. In contrast to cultures of non-neoplastic cells, tumour collagenase was present as an active enzyme, since treatment with trypsin or p-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA) did not increase activity. The neoplastic cells were also prolific producers of plasminogen activator (PA). Dexamethasone (Dex) (10(-6)M) markedly reduced the levels of both enzymes. Addition of tranexamic acid (TA), an inhibitor of plasmin and of plasminogen activation, did not affect collagenase activity, even at 10(-1)M TA, nor did latent collagenase accumulate. Latent collagenase was secreted in culture by normal fibroblasts from neonatal rat lungs. This latent enzyme was activated by the addition of tumour cell medium plus plasminogen, but this effect was inhibited by the addition of TA. These results demonstrate that the neoplastic cells themselves secrete collagenase as an active enzyme. PA is also secreted, is not involved with tumour collagenase, but is capable, in the presence of plasminogen, of activating latent collagenase produced by the non-neoplastic cells within the tumour or in the surrounding tissue. This tumour possesses potent collagenolytic ability in vitro which may be partly responsible for its rapid invasion in vivo.

Human mononuclear cell factors mediate cartilage matrix degradation through chondrocyte activation

Human blood mononuclear cells (BMC) in short-term culture secrete one or more factors that induce degradation of matrix proteoglycan and collagen in cartilage explants in organ culture. Induction of matrix degradation took place both in nasal septum and articular cartilage explants in the presence of the mononuclear cell supernates. Cartilage degradation in this system was absolutely dependent on the presence of live chondrocytes. Matrix depletion did not occur in dead cartilage explants cultured with active supernates. Supernates obtained from unstimulated BMC showed variable cartilage matrix degrading activity (MDA). BMC stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) showed increased MDA, which in one dilution experiment was found to be five times higher than that in the unstimulated control supernate. Concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen were also shown to stimulate release of MDA. Time experiments showed that most of the degrading activity was released by the mononuclear cells during the first day of culture. The cellular origin of MDA was investigated with the aid of partially purified BMC subpopulations. Removal of adherent cells resulted in a decrease of MDA release. Purified T lymphocytes failed to show enhanced MDA release in spite of their ability to mount a virtually intact proliferative response to PHA. Purified adherent cells also failed to show enhanced PHA-dependent MDA release. Nevertheless, restoration of PHA-dependent MDA release took place in reconstituted cell populations containing both T lymphocytes and monocytes. These experiments suggest that MDA may be released by adherent mononuclear cells, presumably monocytes, and that the PHA-dependent increase in MDA release may be mediated by T lymphocytes. Partial characterization of MDA by gel chromatography showed one active fraction corresponding to an apparent molecular weight ranging from 12,000 to 20,000. The fraction was also shown to degrade cartilage matrix only in the presence of live chondrocytes. These results demonstrate that factors released by human BMC mediate degradation of matrix proteoglycan and collagen in intact cartilage explants through chondrocyte activation. This pathogenic mechanism may play a role in in vivo cartilage destruction in chronic inflammatory joint diseases.

Release of cartilage proteoglycan degrading enzyme activity by thioglycollate stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages in culture

Media from cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages were tested for cartilage proteoglycan degrading activity using S35-labelled rabbit ear cartilage. Media samples collected at 2-day intervals contained increasing amounts of activity between days two and six. This activity was activated by trypsin and antagonized by chelating agents. The macrophage products induced release of the proteoglycan component of cartilage as determined by biochemical and histological methods without affecting the collagen component. Media from cells incubated with hydrocortisone were devoid of proteoglycan degrading activity.

The occurrence of uterine stromal and intraepithelial monocytes and heterophils during normal late pregnancy in the rat

The steady decline in plasma progesterone level that occurs during the last week of pregnancy in the normal rat (Wiest, '70) provides good opportunity to study the effect of withdrawal of progesterone on uterine differentiation. Evidence is presented that tissue monocytes, heterophils, and eosinophils are regular components of the normal late gestational uterus and that their number increases as term approaches. Uterine monocytes and heterophils are located in the endometrial and myometrial stroma as well as within the basal intercellular compartment of the luminal epithelium. Stromal monocytes are distributed throughout the attenuated endometrium of late gestation, but are more common immediately beneath the luminal epithelium. In the myometrium, monocytes and heterophils occur, often as perivascular, clusters in the connective tissue septum that separates the two layers of smooth muscle. Eosinophils are present especially in the deep endometrial and myometrial stroma, and increase in number as plasma estrogen rises immediately before parturition. A small population of lymphocytes is regularly present. An important feature of the prepartum uterine stroma is the sparseness of macrophages. Near term, however, the beginnings of monocytic-macrophagic transformation are noticeable as the cell surface becomes more irregular and organelles associated with endocytic activity arise. The prepartum monocytes are positioned in the same histological sites that during the postpartum period of regression will be occupied by macrophages (Padykula and Campbell, '76). Since it is generally accepted that monocytes are precursors of macrophages, this spatial correlation raises the possibility that cellular preparations for regression commence before birth. The possible significance of prepartum monocytic infiltration is discussed in relation to the effect of changing plasma and uterine concentrations of progesterone on uterine collagenase activity. The steady increase in uterine leucocytes which occurs concomitantly with decreasing uterine binding capacity for progesterone supports the hypothesis by Siiteri et al. ('77) that progesterone in high local concentrations has an anti-inflammatory effect.