Role of T Lymphocytes in Experimental Staphylococcus aureus Arthritis

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Abstract

<jats:p>Using a recently developed murine model of haematogenously induced <jats:italic>Staphylococcus aureus</jats:italic>, the authors have characterized the phenotypes and functional properties of inflammatory cells present in the synovium of arthritic mice. The results show that large numbers of granulocytes and macrophages were observed in the inflamed synovia within 24 h of inoculation of S. <jats:italic>aureus</jats:italic> strain LS‐1. Many of the synovial macrophage‐like cells stained for cytoplasmic IL‐1α and TN F‐α. Subsequently (< 48 h later), a prominent infiltration of T lymphocytes, predominantly of CD4<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> phenotype, was observed. Some of the T lymphocytes stained for IL‐2 receptor and intracytoplasmicinterferon‐γ (IFN‐γ). Surprisingly, in spite of the severe inflammatory process, very few cells expressed MHC class‐II molecules in the arthritic synovia. In addition, <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> depletion of CD4 <jats:sup>+</jats:sup> T‐cells resulted in a considerably milder course of staphylococcal arthritis. The similarities in the phenotype expression of synovial cells and central role of T‐cells in <jats:italic>S. aureus</jats:italic> arthritis as well as in non‐infectious models of arthritis, indicate that the process governing joint destruction is likely to be the same, irrespective of the initial stimulus.</jats:p>

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