Correlation between the appearance of gelatinases in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and polymorphonuclear elastase, stromelysin-1, and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1.
OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether gelatinases in the synovial fluid are related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Gelatinases in the synovial fluid of patients with RA were analyzed by gelatin zymography. RESULTS: We classified patients into 3 distinct groups based on the gelatinases present. Although inactive gelatinase A was found in the synovial fluid of all patients with RA, the presence of gelatinase B varied: group I contained none, group II contained inactive gelatinase B, and group III contained active gelatinase B. The presence of gelatinase B was positively correlated with the polymorphonuclear (PMN) elastase content of the synovial fluid. Furthermore, the presence of activated gelatinase B correlated well with the stromelysin-1 content. Conversely, large amounts of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were found in the synovial fluid of patients in group II. CONCLUSION: The appearance and form of gelatinase B may reflect the inflammatory condition of patients with RA.