RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Upregulation of kallistatin expression in rheumatoid joints.
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 2171
OP 2176
VO 34
IS 11
A1 Chrong-Reen Wang
A1 Shih-Yao Chen
A1 Ai-Li Shiau
A1 Chao-Liang Wu
A1 I-Ming Jou
A1 Lee Chao
A1 Julie Chao
YR 2007
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/34/11/2171.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: Previous studies demonstrated suppression of rat ankle arthritis by local injection of kallistatin gene, a negative regulator of angiogenesis. We analyzed circulating levels, synovial concentrations, and tissue localizations of kallistatin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Paired plasma and joint fluid samples were simultaneously obtained from 24 patients with RA and 14 with osteoarthritis (OA). Synovial tissues from 5 patients with RA and 5 with OA were obtained during surgery. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and mononuclear cells (MNC) were prepared. ELISA was used to measure kallistatin levels of plasma, joint fluid, cell lysate, and synovium homogenate extract. Synovial tissues were subjected to Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. In addition, the tissue kallikrein (TK) levels of plasma and joint fluid samples were also measured by the ELISA. RESULTS: Circulating and synovial levels of kallistatin and TK were elevated in patients with RA. The immunohistochemical assay exhibited stainings of kallistatin on both infiltrating MNC and FLS. Intracellular kallistatin levels were significantly elevated in MNC and FLS from patients with RA. CONCLUSION: Elevated kallistatin levels were demonstrated in patients with RA, particularly in synovial tissues, FLS, and MNC. This report is the first to demonstrate upregulation of kallistatin expression in rheumatoid joints.