Biomaterial Database

Expression of CD44 in normal and rheumatoid synovium and cultured synovial fibroblasts. 1994

K J Henderson, and J C Edwards, and J G Worrall

Department of Rheumatology Research, University College London Medical School, United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE To determine if expression of CD44, the principal receptor for hyaluronan, was altered in rheumatoid (RA) synovium and cultured rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts. METHODS Synovium was obtained from normal adult human joints (n = 4) and from joints of patients with RA (n = 5). Specific monoclonal antibodies to CD44 were used in immunofluorescence of whole synovium and cultured synovial fibroblasts and in quantitative Western blotting and ELISA of CD44 in cultured synovial fibroblasts. RESULTS CD44 was restricted to the lining layer in normal synovium but present, in reduced concentrations, throughout rheumatoid synovium. Cultured rheumatoid cells were 19% larger in area and showed far fewer and less extensive CD44-positive cytoplasmic extensions, together with reduced staining intensity compared with normal. Quantitative Western blotting normalised for cell protein showed a 75% reduction (normal = 1754 (835), rheumatoid = 409 (84) mean (SD) arbitrary units) in the amount of CD44 in rheumatoid cells compared with normal, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of cultured cell monolayers normalised for cell number indicated a 29% reduction (normal = 0.707 (0.110), rheumatoid = 0.504 (0.103), mean (SD) optical density at 405 nm). CONCLUSIONS Rheumatoid synovial cells showed altered morphology and reduced CD44 expression compared with normal cells. CD44, by means of modulated associations with the cytoskeleton, may be involved in cell shape change.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011956	Receptors, Cell Surface	Cell surface proteins that bind signalling molecules external to the cell with high affinity and convert this extracellular event into one or more intracellular signals that alter the behavior of the target cell (From Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2nd ed, pp693-5). Cell surface receptors, unlike enzymes, do not chemically alter their ligands.	Cell Surface Receptor,Cell Surface Receptors,Hormone Receptors, Cell Surface,Receptors, Endogenous Substances,Cell Surface Hormone Receptors,Endogenous Substances Receptors,Receptor, Cell Surface,Surface Receptor, Cell
D002352	Carrier Proteins	Proteins that bind or transport specific substances in the blood, within the cell, or across cell membranes.	Binding Proteins,Carrier Protein,Transport Protein,Transport Proteins,Binding Protein,Protein, Carrier,Proteins, Carrier
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D005347	Fibroblasts	Connective tissue cells which secrete an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and other macromolecules.	Fibroblast
D005455	Fluorescent Antibody Technique	Test for tissue antigen using either a direct method, by conjugation of antibody with fluorescent dye (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, DIRECT) or an indirect method, by formation of antigen-antibody complex which is then labeled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibody (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, INDIRECT). The tissue is then examined by fluorescence microscopy.	Antinuclear Antibody Test, Fluorescent,Coon's Technique,Fluorescent Antinuclear Antibody Test,Fluorescent Protein Tracing,Immunofluorescence Technique,Coon's Technic,Fluorescent Antibody Technic,Immunofluorescence,Immunofluorescence Technic,Antibody Technic, Fluorescent,Antibody Technics, Fluorescent,Antibody Technique, Fluorescent,Antibody Techniques, Fluorescent,Coon Technic,Coon Technique,Coons Technic,Coons Technique,Fluorescent Antibody Technics,Fluorescent Antibody Techniques,Fluorescent Protein Tracings,Immunofluorescence Technics,Immunofluorescence Techniques,Protein Tracing, Fluorescent,Protein Tracings, Fluorescent,Technic, Coon's,Technic, Fluorescent Antibody,Technic, Immunofluorescence,Technics, Fluorescent Antibody,Technics, Immunofluorescence,Technique, Coon's,Technique, Fluorescent Antibody,Technique, Immunofluorescence,Techniques, Fluorescent Antibody,Techniques, Immunofluorescence,Tracing, Fluorescent Protein,Tracings, Fluorescent Protein
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D000911	Antibodies, Monoclonal	Antibodies produced by a single clone of cells.	Monoclonal Antibodies,Monoclonal Antibody,Antibody, Monoclonal
D001172	Arthritis, Rheumatoid	A chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures. Etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.	Rheumatoid Arthritis