Immunopathologic Significance of Cartilage Antigenic Components in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been studied in an attempt to detect immune responses to cartilage antigens that might function in the causation and/or perpetuation of joint inflammation. Cartilagenous antigenic determinants could be consistently demonstrated in synovial fluid and its phagocytic cellular components. Antibody to such constituents could not be detected in serum, synovial fluid or immunoglobulin eluted from or synthesized de novo by rheumatoid synovium. However, delayed hypersensitivity to cartilage antigens correlating with clinical evidence of inflammatory cartilagenous degradation could be identified.