Rheumatoid arthritis is a multisystemic, chronic and autoimmune disease that progresses with inflammation. Pain, fatigue, morning stiffness and limited mobility resulting from rheumatoid arthritis increase with inflammation. It also decreases the quality of life by affecting daily life, making life difficult, causing disruptions in social relations and depression. Inflammatory mediators in activated condition infiltrate synovial membranes, causing damage to bone and cartilage. Inflammatory cells are a pannus view consisting of a mixture of proliferated-laying synovial cells mixed with granulation tissue and connective tissue [1]. Some indicators are considered important in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although serum RF, CRP level and ESH, which are among the activation indicators of RA disease, have been shown to be important, CRP in RA patients is a good indicator in the early stages of erosion development in the joints [2].

ADAMTS-8 has cell adhesion, cell fusion, proteolysis and signal transduction functions [3]. This protease has been shown to separate proteoglycans such as aggrecan, versican and brevican [4]. The substrate aggregate ADAMTS-8 is expressed in macrophage-rich regions in atherosclerosis [5]. The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of ADAMTS-8 expression in cells in synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Patients with active RA were aspirated with arthro synthesis from the knee joint. Blood samples were taken from the patients at the same time, plasma samples were separated. Ethics committee approval was received. Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic 2019-2020 ACR 2010 ACR/Eular criteria monitored in according to the patients diagnosed with RA were taken. Retrospective demographic characteristics, physical examination findings and laboratory data from patients’ files ESH, CRP, RF, levels were measured from the data. Informed consent form was obtained from all of the patients (10 RA and control 10 patients). With each patient in the supine position, a minimum of 5 mL of synovial fluid was aspirated from the lateral suprapatellar pouch of the affected knee via an injector. Blood samples were also collected. The synovial fluid was subjected to high-speed centrifugation, the supernatant was discarded, and 10%. (v/v) neutral formalin was added. (pellet: formalin volume ratio, 1:3). After 2 h of fixation, the clear bright supernatant was discarded and the tube was inverted on filter paper to allow excess fluid to drain. The pellet was then placed on filter paper using a spatula and eosin stain solution was added using a Pasteur pipette. After the cell aggregate developed a red colour, it was wrapped in filter paper and placed in a cassette, which was then stored in a fixation box for tissue processing. The cells were examined following Harris haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The synovial fluid was also immunostained and examined under a light microscope.

Sections for immunohistochemical analysis were placed in distilled water and washed three times for 5 min with phosphate-buffered saline. (PBS) Antigen retrieval was performed in a microwave oven. (Bosch, 700 W) for 3 min at 90˚C in citrate buffer (pH 6). The sections were washed three times for 5 min with PBS and incubated with hydrogen peroxide for 20 min. The sections were washed 3 times for 5 min with PBS and blocked with Ultra V Block. (lot PHL150128; Thermo Fisher Scientific) for 8 min. After draining, primary antibodies were directly added to the sections. The antibody were ADAMTS-8 (1/100) followed by incubation overnight at 4˚C. The sections were washed 3 times for 5 min with PBS and incubated with biotinylated secondary antibody for 14 min. After washing with PBS, streptavidin peroxidase was added for 15 min followed by washing 3 times for 5 min with PBS and the addition of DAB for up to 10 min. As the reaction developed, the slides were placed in PBS, counterstained with Harris haematoxylin. (Hematoxylene and Eosin, H&E) for 45 s, dehydrated through baths of ascendingalcohol proportions cleared in xylene mountedwith Entellan and examined under the light microscope (Carl Zeizz, Germany).

ESR was determined by Westergen method while CRP was measured with nephelometry. (Behring 100, Behring, Germany). Anti CCP IgG autoantibodies were detected with ELISA method. (Euroimmun, Germany). Disease activity score was measured with Disease Activity Score 28—erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) criteria.

CRP, RF and ESH results were statistically evaluated in patients with Control and Rheumatoid arthritis. Statistical significance was subjected to the independent t test. Results were presented as mean ± SD and p < 0. 05 was considered significant.

Basic demographic data of the two groups should be listed out and compared. The amount of CRP was 3.36 ± 2.47 in the control group and 17.41 ± 6.57 in the RA group.

It was concluded that RF and ESH values were 13.45 ± 3.54 in the control group and 35.94 ± 8.90 and 39.50 ± 11.48 in the 12.80 ± 3.33 RA group. Compared to the control group, CRP, RF and ESH results were statistically evaluated in patients with Control and Rheumatoid arthritis. .

Basic demographic data of the two groups should be listed out and compared. It is shown in Table 1 and Figure 1.

Histopathologic results (Figure 2).

İmmunohistochemical results (Figure 3).

In addition, positive expression of ADAMTS-8 in plasma cells and some leukocyte cells was evaluated as an indicator of inflammation.

Rheumatoid arthritis inflammatory cell infiltration, synovial. It is a chronic disease characterized by hyperplasia in tissue and a destruction of cartilage and bone. Rheumatoid arthritis becomes chronic and causes early mortality and high morbidity. Acute inflammation often indicates a sudden onset; with classic symptoms like heat, pain, redness, and swelling, it becomes visible within minutes or hours.

Chronic inflammation develops over a long period of time and can last for days, weeks or months. Neutrophils are the most common inflammatory cells in acute synovitis. In chronic synovitis due to osteoarthritis, lymphocytic infiltrates are often found in large quantities, together with lymphocytic infiltrates [6]. In our study, in the control group sections, the synovial cells had nuclei-rich nuclei and fibroblasts, macrophages and few erythrocyte cells in the extracellular matrix (Figure 2(a)). In histopathological examination of rheumatoid arthritis patients, synovial cells degeneration, pycnotic nucleus and apoptosis were observed (Figure 2(b)).

Aging can lead to inadequate removal of proteins that have been exposed to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage in chondrocytes. This event may trigger cell aging and an increase in the production of inflammatory cytokines [7].

ADAMTS enzymes, known as enzymes responsible for cartilage matrix rupture in diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, are a family of proteinases that play critical roles in the reconstruction, coagulation, morphogenesis, ovulation, angiogenesis and central nervous system diseases [3].

ADAMTS-8 protein has an angiogenetic inhibitory effect in the structure of the extracellular matrix in the regulation of various cancers that have the ability to suppress tumor genes in tumor proliferation [8]. ADAMTS-8 is a large molecule that carries an enzyme that binds to lipoproteins from proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix to versican cytokines. It has been reported that ADAMTS-8 protein may be under the influence of extracellular matrix damage due to diabetes and changes in the basement membrane structure [9]. Kaya S et al. [10] stated that the inflammatory process in diabetic rats may increase cytokine activity due to the change in the vertical molecule structure in ADAMTS-8.

Some analyzes ADAMTS and the role of these MMP-like activities in human cartilage are markedly different. Excessive ADAMTS activity in vivo is destructive for the cartilage matrix because most of the products carrying glycosaminoglycan. (GAG) release from tissue into synovial fluid. MMP-like activity has been reported to be non-destructive, as it is retained in tissue following cleavages in the region [11]. In control group sections, ADAMTS-8 expression was negative in most synovial cells, whereas ADAMTS-8 expression was positive in macrophage cells (Figure 3(a)). We observed that the expression of ADAMTS8 in synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis cases may cause a significant increase in apoptosis levels by suppressing some signal pathways, and predicts that apoptosis induction may play a role in the inhibition of ADAMTS8-mediated synovial cell proliferation (Figure3(b)). It is thought that synovial cells can affect cartilage matrix and cartilage tension and induce enzymes that degrade matrix. Increased inflammation in joint fluid in cases of rheumatoid arthritis is thought to cause disruption in the cartilage matrix and apoptotic cell development.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Baloğlu, M., Deveci, E. and Deveci, Ş. (2020) ADAMTS-8 Activity in Synovial Cells in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases, 10, 125-131. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojra.2020.103014