Open AccessEffects of Ureaplasma urealyticum lipid-associated membrane proteins on rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts
Author(s) -
Min Fu,
Li Hui Chen,
Guangtao Xia,
Yuanchao Zhang
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of international medical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1473-2300
pISSN - 0300-0605
DOI - 10.1177/0300060513498542
Subject(s) - ureaplasma urealyticum , medicine , synovial membrane , secretion , proinflammatory cytokine , tumor necrosis factor alpha , western blot , immunology , immunogenicity , rheumatoid arthritis , inflammation , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , gene , mycoplasma , biochemistry
Objectives As an infectious agent might play a role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development, this study investigated effects of Ureaplasma urealyticum lipid-associated membrane proteins (UuLAMPs) on RA synovial fibroblast (RASF) proliferation, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β production by THP-1 macrophages. Possible immunogenic proteins in UuLAMPs were identified.Methods RASFs were cultured from synovial tissue from donors with RA. Serum samples from donors with/without RA and with/without U. urealyticum infection were used for immunogenicity analyses. THP-1 macrophages served as a model for synovial macrophages. TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA levels were assessed using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction; protein levels were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. UuLAMPs underwent separation and Western blot analyses.Results UuLAMPs (0.025–0.4 µg/ml) stimulated RASF proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and increased TNF-α and IL-1β levels in THP-1 macrophages. Several immunogenic UuLAMPs were identified, but antibodies to a 25 kDa protein were only found in RA patients with U. urealyticum infection.Conclusions UuLAMPs might induce RASF proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion in synovium from RA patients. A 25 kDa U. urealyticum protein might act as a cross-reactive antigen.