The relation of experimental arthritis to the distribution of streptococcal cell wall fragments.

Abstract

The intraperitoneal injection of peptidoglycan-carbohydrate fragments from Group A streptococci produces a chronic, polyarticular, erosive synovitis in rats. The cell wall material accumulates rapidly in the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, where it causes little injury. At the same time, selective localization and persistence of the material in the synovial and periarticular tissues occurs. Its presence in the joint is associated with acute and recurrent inflammation with focal synotivitis, pannus formation, joint destruction, and ankylosis. Cell wall fragments become localized in the synovial and periarticular tissues at a time when there are leukocytes in the bloodstream, which appear to contain the material. During this early phase vascular lesions appear in the synovium and in periarticular tissues with collections of fibrin, neutrophils, macrophages, and cell wall fragments near the venules and capillaries. Recurrent episodes of inflammation and joint injury, associated with persistent cell wall antigen within macrophages, were observed over a period of 90 days.

Full text

PDF

• 383
• 384
• 385
• 386
• 387
• …
• 402
• Next

Images in this article

Figure 17
on p.401

Figure 18
on p.401

Figure 19
on p.401

Figure 20
on p.401

Figure 21
on p.401

Figure 7
on p.396

Figure 8
on p.396

Figure 9
on p.396

Figure 10
on p.396

Figure 11
on p.397

Figure 12
on p.397

Figure 1
on p.393

Figure 2
on p.393

Figure 3
on p.393

Figure 4
on p.395

Figure 5
on p.395

Figure 6
on p.395

Figure 13
on p.399

Figure 14
on p.399

Figure 15
on p.399

Figure 16
on p.399