We investigated 86 synovial membranes from patients suffering either from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA). Iron deposits in the synovial membrane were stained by the Prussian blue reaction, and the amount of stained iron was quantitatively assessed by microscope photometry. We found a statistically significant increase in iron deposits in the synovial membrane of RA patients when compared to OA patients. The amount of iron deposits correlated with the histological subtype of synovitis, those presenting with more exudative and proliferative features showing greater amounts of iron deposits. We also observed an inverse correlation between the haemoglobin concentration and erythrocytes in the serum and the amount of iron in the synovial membrane. From our data we concluded that iron deposits in the synovial membrane can contribute by several mechanisms, including activation of oxygen radicals, to the chronic inflammatory reaction in RA synovitis.

A two-dimensional electrophoresis technique for analysing sections of human tissue is described. Cryostat sections, 10 microns thick, are placed on an isoelectric focusing gel and then transferred to an SDS gel in the second dimension. The protein pattern is visualized by silver staining and is thought to represent soluble proteins. The silver-stained proteins were found to be both reproducible and, to the extent tested, organ-specific. This method was used to analyse 43 synovial membranes from patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or degenerative joint diseases. The analysis did not reveal any specific protein pattern for rheumatoid arthritis. The protein spot number was not related to the cause of arthritis. However, the total protein spot number was related to the histomorphological synovitis type, with those exhibiting either an exudative or proliferative synovitis pattern possessing significantly higher protein spot numbers than those specimens exhibiting a sero-fibrous or lympho-plasmacytic pattern of synovitis.

A two-dimensional electrophoresis technique for analysing sections of human tissue is described. Cryostat sections, 10 microns thick, are placed on an isoelectric focusing gel and then transferred to an SDS gel in the second dimension. The protein pattern is visualized by silver staining and is thought to represent soluble proteins. The silver-stained proteins were found to be both reproducible and, to the extent tested, organ-specific. This method was used to analyse 43 synovial membranes from patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or degenerative joint diseases. The analysis did not reveal any specific protein pattern for rheumatoid arthritis. The protein spot number was not related to the cause of arthritis. However, the total protein spot number was related to the histomorphological synovitis type, with those exhibiting either an exudative or proliferative synovitis pattern possessing significantly higher protein spot numbers than those specimens exhibiting a sero-fibrous or lympho-plasmacytic pattern of synovitis.

Background: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the content of drug-transporting and -metabolizing enzymes in primary lung cancer. Material and Methods: We investigated 20 specimens of lobectomies, bilobectomies, pneumonectomies and extended pneumonectomies of patients suffering from lung Results: In normal bronchial tissue and various primary lung tumors, we observed a high content of glycoprotein 170 (gp 170), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) placenta (π) and liver (α) types. Gp 170 and GSTπ were localized in columnar epithelium, excretory ducts, serous glands, muscles, cartilage, nerves and vessel walls. Nine of 12 squamous cell carcinomas showed a considerable quantity of gp 170, comparable with the amount of gp 170 in the proximal tubules of the kidney. All of them stained for GST π. GST α was demonstrable to a lesser extent than GSTπ. Only few of the carcinomas stained markedly positive for GSTα. There was no correlation between the quantity in normal bronchial tissue and the corresponding tumor for any enzyme studied. Conclusions: If gp 170 and GST play a role in primary chemoresistance, expecially in multiple drug resistance, our results explain the high rate of primary chemoresistance in non-small cell lung tumors.