Studies from Midwestern University, Medical Department provide new data on arthritis
2007 NOV 19 -- According to recent research from the United States, "Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are a major constituent of the hyperplastic synovial pannus that aggressively invades cartilage and bone during the course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fractalkine (FKN/ CX(3)CL1) expression is up-regulated in RA synovium and RA synovial fluid." "While RA FLS express the FKN receptor, CX(3)CR1, the pathophysiologic relevance of FKN stimulation of RA FLS is not understood. This study was undertaken to better characterize the relationship between FKN and the RA FLS that both produce it and express its receptorRA FLS were subjected to chemotaxis and proliferation assays, Western blotting, enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, and filamentous actin staining to characterize the relationship between FKN and RA FLSFKN secretion by RA FLS was regulated mainly by tumor necrosis factor a. Stimulation of RA FLS with FKN led to significant cytoskeletal rearrangement but no proliferation. Chemotaxis assays revealed that FKN was a novel chemoattractant for RA FLS. Stimulation of RA FLS with FKN resulted in activation of MAP kinases and Akt. JNK, ERK-1/2, and Akt (at both Ser-473 and Thr-308) were each up-regulated in a time-dependent manner. Inhibition of ERK-1/2-mediated signaling, but not JNK or Akt, significantly repressed FKN-induced RA FLS migrationThese findings indicate a novel role of FKN in regulating RA FLS cytoskeletal structure and migration," wrote M.V. Volin and colleagues, Midwestern University, Medical Department. The researchers concluded: "FKN specifically induces RA FLS phosphorylation of the MAP kinases JNK and ERK-1/2, as well as full activation of Akt." Volin and colleagues published their study in Arthritis and Rheumatism (Fractalkine is a novel chemoattractant for rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocyte signaling through MAP kinases and akt. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 2007;56(8):2512-2522). For additional information, contact J.M. Woods, Midwestern University, Chicago College Osteopath Medical, Dept. of Immunology & Microbiology, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism is: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA. Keywords: United States, Downers Grove, Arthritis, Midwestern University, Medical Department. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
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