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Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology
. 1996 Jan;3(1):5–9. doi: 10.1128/cdli.3.1.5-9.1996

Regulation of early complement components C3 and C4 in the synovium.

T Collins 1, J A Winkelstein 1, K E Sullivan 1
PMCID: PMC170239  PMID: 8770496

Abstract

To determine the cytokine inducibility of early complement component (C3 and C4) expression in the synovium, explant tissue was maintained in culture for 7 days. C3 and C4 production was measured by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and RNA was evaluated by semiquantitative PCR. The effects of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), IFN-alpha, and estrogen on C3 and C4 expression were evaluated. C3 levels were unaffected by 7 days of LIF, IFN-gamma, or IFN-alpha treatment. In contrast, C4 levels were significantly induced in synovial samples treated for 7 days with either IFN-gamma or IFN-alpha. LIF had no effect on C4 levels in this system. Estrogen was found to down-modulate the induction of expression due to IFN-gamma. These data provide evidence for cytokine regulation of C4 expression in the synovium and for estrogen modulation of those effects.

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Selected References

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