Different distribution of CD4 and CD8 T cells in synovial membrane and peripheral blood of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are chronic diseases associated with morphological joint changes. Synovial membrane (SM) involvement was established for RA, but the data for OA are limited, because OA is usually regarded as noninflammatory disease. Changes in immune system in RA are not limited to joints, and the significant role of T cells of peripheral blood (PB) is not disputable. However, there is still an open debate about PB immunological profile in OA. Therefore, we decided to measure the distribution of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, regarding CD28 expression, both in PB and SM of RA and OA patients, on the same day. Altogether, eleven RA patients, 11 OA patients and similar numbers of age-matched healthy controls were included into the study. Flow cytometry was used for T cells subpopulation distinguishing and quantification; monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD28 with different fluorochromes were used for stainings. The RA patients had significantly higher percentage of CD3 + 4 + cells in PB as compared to OA patients and relevant control group. Both within the CD4 + and CD8 + compartments, significantly lower percentages of cells bearing the CD28 marker were found in the PB of OA as compared to RA patients. The proportion of CD3 + CD4 + cells in SM was dependent on age of OA patients, older OA patients had significantly higher value of their SM/blood ratio than RA patients. Older OA subjects were also characterized by higher values of the SM/blood ratio of both CD4 + CD28 + and CD8 + CD28 + subpopulations than RA or younger OA patients. In conclusion, in contrast to the traditional view of OA disease, our results give support to the hypothesis that OA may also (like RA) be a disease with a local immunological involvement.

A comparative analysis of serological parameters and oxidative stress in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

“…Our study is supporting the findings of Pawlowska J et al [28] that OA may also like RA is a disease with immunological process and both OA and RA are marked with oxidative stress, inflammation, and dyslipedemia. Guidelines should be included not only for RA but for OA also for the better management of rheumatic diseases.…”

Synovial inflammation, immune cells and their cytokines in osteoarthritis: a review

“…With increasing histological infiltration grade, both macrophage fraction areas as intensity of macrophage infiltration increased 17,28 . Subsets of macrophages, "classically activated"(M1) and "alternatively activated"(M2) 30, 68 , have not been investigated in OA ST. Although the importance of macrophages in OA ST is hypothesized 21,33,35,44,48 , their role in human OA ST is still largely unknown.…”

“…Neutrophils were almost never found 21,34,35,44,48,62 . Overall OA ST contained fewer number of inflammatory cells than RA ST 25,30,36,37,44,45,56,57,63,65,68,69,71,75,78 , but more than normal control ST 25,34,44,45,50,51,55,57,59,61e63,65,67,70,71,75,78 .…”

T Cells in Osteoarthritis: Alterations and Beyond

“…The conclusion that activated T cells are aggregated in the synovial membranes of OA patients was further supported by the discovery that virtually all T cells in OA joints express activation markers, such as HLA-DR and CD69 (40). Interestingly, OA patients older than 75 have higher percentages of CD3 + , CD4 + , and CD8 + cells in their synovial membranes than OA patients younger than 75 (41). This may suggest that age is among the risk factors for OA.…”