PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - P K Wong
AU  - C Cuello
AU  - J V Bertouch
AU  - P J Roberts-Thomson
AU  - M J Ahern
AU  - M D Smith
AU  - P P Youssef
TI  - Effects of pulse methylprednisolone on macrophage chemotactic protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha in rheumatoid synovium.
DP  - 2001 Dec 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 2634--2636
VI  - 28
IP  - 12
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/12/2634.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/12/2634.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2001 Dec 01; 28
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of pulse methyprednisolone (PMP; 1000 mg) on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha in rheumatoid synovial membrane. METHODS: Seven patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were studied. Arthroscopically-directed synovial biopsies were taken before and 24 hours after treatment with intravenous PMP. Synovial membranes were stained by immunohistochemical techniques with monoclonal antibodies against MCP-1, MIP-1alpha and CD68 (a macrophage marker). Quantitation of staining was performed by computer-assisted color video image analysis. RESULTS: PMP therapy was associated with a rapid (within 24 hours) and substantial decrease in the expression of MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha expression by a mean of 55% (p = 0.05) and 45% (p = 0.03), respectively, with no effect on CD68 expression in the synovial lining layer. There was no significant change in MCP-1, MIP-1alpha or CD68 expression in the synovial sublining. CONCLUSION: PMP therapy rapidly reduces MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha levels in the synovial lining layer without a fall in macrophage numbers. It thus appears that the initial effect of PMP is that of reducing macrophage activation.