Analysis of cytotoxic factors released from synovial fluid polymorphonuclear leukocytes tested on synovial cultured cells

Abstract

Cytotoxic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) obtained from synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was tested on synovial cultured cells obtained from synovial tissues of RA patients in counting the remaining numbers of cells attached to the botton of culture dish. The cytotoxic activity of PMN was not inhibited by superoxide dismutase, weakly inhibited by catalase, but strongly inhibited by a combination of trypsin inhibitor and catalase. The result would suggest that proteolytic enzyme released from are major factors which injure the synovial cells.