Abstract
Objective: To study FLS cultures, with particular attention to differences in growth rate of FLS from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and from other arthritic patients. Additionally, to analyse the influence of methotrexate (MTX) treatment, patient age, and disease duration on FLS growth characteristics.
Materials and methods: FLS were isolated from needle arthroscopy biopsy specimens. Twenty four patients (11 RA, 8 spondyloarthropathy, 1 osteoarthritis, and 4 undifferentiated arthritis) were studied. FLS population doubling time was determined between passage 2 and passage 5. Differences in population doubling time between RA and non-RA FLS and between FLS from patients receiving MTX and those not receiving this drug were analysed. In addition, possible correlations between FLS population doubling time and patient age or disease duration were examined.
Results: In vitro monolayer FLS cultures from needle arthroscopy biopsy specimens showed linear growth characteristics. Cell growth rate was not correlated with type of disease. Cells from patients undergoing treatment with MTX showed a longer population doubling time than FLS from patients not receiving this drug (Mann-Whitney test, p<0.05). No correlation was found with patient age or disease duration.
Conclusion: The results suggest that FLS growth in monolayer is not dependent on the disease affecting the joint. MTX treatment, however, was more relevant in determining FLS growth rate.
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Figure 1.
Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) show linear growth characteristics from passage 2 (P2) to P5. FLS in vitro growth rates are shown as day of passaging starting from the initial day of plating. FLS from three different patients are shown.
Figure 2.
Factors influencing the fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) in vitro population doubling time (PDT) (days). (A) No differences in FLS PDT are seen between FLS from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as compared with FLS from patients with other arthritic disease (Mann-Whitney U test, p>0.05). (B) FLS PDT is increased in FLS from patients treated with methotrexate (MTX) as compared with FLS from patients not treated with this drug (Mann-Whitney U test, *p<0.05). Bar = median. (C) FLS PDT is increased in FLS from patients with RA treated with MTX as compared with FLS from patients with RA not treated with this drug (Mann-Whitney U test, *p<0.05). Bar = median.