Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1967 Nov;94(5):1728–1735. doi: 10.1128/jb.94.5.1728-1735.1967

Association of Experimental Chronic Arthritis with the Persistence of Group A Streptococcal Cell Walls in the Articular Tissue

John H Schwab a, William J Cromartie a, Sarkis H Ohanian a,1, John G Craddock a
PMCID: PMC276884  PMID: 4169223

Abstract

A single injection of isolated fragments of group A streptococcal cell walls into the joints of rabbits stimulated an initial acute reaction which was followed by a prolonged inflammatory process. The chronic process was characterized by hyperplasia of the synovial cells, diffuse infiltration of the villi by macrophages, and focal collections of lymphocytes in the stroma of the villi. These histological changes were similar to those seen in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis. Antibodies specific for the mucopeptide and group-specific C polysaccharide antigens of group A streptococcal cell walls were labeled with either fluorescein or 125I, and were used to demonstrate antigen in the synovial tissues. The antigens persisted within macro-phages for at least 5 weeks. Their presence correlated with the evolution of the chronic inflammatory process.

Full text

PDF
1728

Images in this article

1730Image
on p.1730
1731Image
on p.1731
1732Image
on p.1732
1733Image
on p.1733

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Abdulla E. M., Schwab J. H. Biological properties of streptococcal cell-wall particles. 3. Dermonecrotic reaction to cell-wall mucopeptides. J Bacteriol. 1966 Jan;91(1):374–383. doi: 10.1128/jb.91.1.374-383.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. CROMARTIE W. J., SCHWAB J. H., CRADDOCK J. G. The effect of a toxic cellular component of group A streptococci on connective tissue. Am J Pathol. 1960 Jul;37:79–99. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cromartie W. J., Craddock J. G. Rheumatic-like cardiac lesions in mice. Science. 1966 Oct 14;154(3746):285–287. doi: 10.1126/science.154.3746.285. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. François R. J. Beta-haemolytic streptococci and antistreptolysin-O titres in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and a matched control group. Ann Rheum Dis. 1965 Jul;24(4):369–377. doi: 10.1136/ard.24.4.369. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gardner D. L. The Experimental Production of Arthritis: A Review. Ann Rheum Dis. 1960 Dec;19(4):297–317. doi: 10.1136/ard.19.4.297. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Ohanian S. H., Schwab J. H. Persistence of group a streptococcal cell walls related to chronic inflammation of rabbit dermal connective tissue. J Exp Med. 1967 Jun 1;125(6):1137–1148. doi: 10.1084/jem.125.6.1137. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. ROBERSON B. S., SCHWAB J. H., CROMARTIE W. J. Relation of particle size of C polysaccharide complexes of group A streptococci to toxic effects on connective tissue. J Exp Med. 1960 Nov 1;112:751–764. doi: 10.1084/jem.112.5.751. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. SCHWAB J. H., CROMARTIE W. J. Studies on a toxic cellular component of group A streptococci. J Bacteriol. 1957 Nov;74(5):673–679. doi: 10.1128/jb.74.5.673-679.1957. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. SHERMAN M. S. The non-specificity of synovial reactions. Bull Hosp Joint Dis. 1951 Oct;12(2):110–125. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Schwab J. H. Biological properties of streptococcal cell-wall particles. I. Determinants of the chronic nodular lesion of connective tissue. J Bacteriol. 1965 Nov;90(5):1405–1411. doi: 10.1128/jb.90.5.1405-1411.1965. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES