Induction of Apoptosis in Synovial Cells from Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Chang, Sung Yeoul; Kim, Seong Yoon; Kim, Myung Hee; Chai, Young Gyu; Park, Jae Chan; Choi, Yong Keel; Jun, Jae Bum; Jung, Sung Soo

Abstract

Homeostasis of multicellular organism is controlled by proliferation and differentiation of cells as well as by cell death. The defects in programmed cell death contribute to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematous. RA is considered to be a proliferating disorder of synovial tissue which is accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration and bone erosion. The aim of the study was to find whether potent inducers of apoptosis could be induced apoptosis in RA synovial cells. We examined the effects of drugs, such as dexamethasone, methotrexate, hydrogen peroxide, and ceramide on induction of apoptosis in cultured RA synovial cells. Used drugs did not induced apoptosis in RA synovial cells. Finally Fas antigen-mediated apoptosis of RA synovial cells was investigated by the addition of anti-Fas antibody. To examine the ICE (interleukin-1p-convertase; caspase-1) expression in synovial cells, RT-PCR of caspase-1 gene was performed. In synovial cells of RA, Fas induces that caspase-1 activation cause apoptosis.