Oncogene expression in synovial fluid cells in reactive and early rheumatoid arthritis: a brief report

: Roivainen A, Isomäki P, Nikkari S, Saario R, Vuori K, Toivanen P

Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS UNITED KINGDOM

: 1995

: British Journal of Rheumatology

: BRITISH JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY

: BRIT J RHEUMATOL

: 34

: 9

: 805

: 808

: 4

: 0263-7103

Since it has been implied that cellular oncogenes might have a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we have examined the expression of c-myc, c-myb, c-fos, c-jun and c-Ha-ras oncogenes in the cells from synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB) of patients with reactive arthritis (ReA) and early RA. Oncogene expression was studied using RNA hybridizations with P-32-labelled probes. From the SF, mononuclear and granulocyte cell fractions were used separately. Significant differences between ReA and RA were observed only for c-myb in PB mononuclear cells and c-jun in SF granulocytes. Regarding the expression of c-myc, c-Sos and c-Ha-ras oncogenes, no difference between ReA and RA was observed. Comparison to normal controls was made using PB mononuclear cells; only the expression of c-fos tended to be slightly increased in RA, without statistical significance, however. We conclude that oncogene activation in the synovial inflammation is not a phenomenon specific for RA.