MPGES1 expression in synovial lining fibroblasts before and 16 weeks after initiation of rituximab therapy.

<p>Double immunofluorescence pictures show the presence of MPGES1 (red) expression in CD55 positive fibroblasts (green) in the rheumatoid tissue before rituximab initiation (A) and 16 weeks later (B). Original magnification 500x. Arrows point to double stained cells.</p

Rituximab treatment exerts limited effects on the synovial tissue expression of IL-1β and IL-6.

<p>Graphs show image analysis of positive stained sections for (A) IL-1β and (B) IL-6 before and at consecutive time points after initiation of rituximab therapy. At week 16 a trend towards decrease occurred in IL-6 but not in IL-1β.</p

Minimal influence of rituximab treatment on expression of MPGES1, COX-1 and COX-2 in synovial tissue.

<p>Immunohistochemical staining of frozen biopsy sections from rheumatoid arthritis patients shows diaminobenzidine staining (brown) of MPGES1 (A–C), COX-2 (E-G) and COX-1 (I–K) before treatment, 4 weeks and 16 weeks after treatment (hematoxiline counterstained). Graphs depict image analysis of MPGES1 (D), COX-2 (H) and COX-1 (L) expression in stained sections from patients' biopsies at the different time points. Original magnification 150x.</p

MPGES1 is not expressed in B cell-rich areas in RA synovium.

<p>Frozen sections of synovial tissue showing diaminobenzidine (brown) staining of MPGES1 (A), COX-2 (B), COX-1 (C) and CD20 B cells (D), CD138 plasma cells (E) (hematoxiline counterstained). Insets represent higher power of image A and D. Original magnification 80x and 200x (insets). (F) and (G) Immunofluorescence pictures of double stained MPGES1 (red) and CD20+ B cells (F) and CD138+ plasma cells (G) (green). Magnification 400x.</p

Skewed distribution of CD4CD28T cells in synovial fluid and peripheral blood

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Skewed distribution of proinflammatory CD4CD28T cells in rheumatoid arthritis"</p><p>http://arthritis-research.com/content/9/5/R87</p><p>Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007;9(5):R87-R87.</p><p>Published online 7 Sep 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2212553.</p><p></p> Paired samples of synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB) from 128 rheumatoid arthritis patients were compared for the frequency of CD4CD28T cells by flow cytometry. Frequencies of CD4CD28T cells in SF tend to be higher in patients with large populations in PB. Comparison of the frequency of CD4CD28T cells in SF from two different synovial compartments. Open circle, elbow; open squares, shoulder joints. Frequencies of CD4CD28T cells in SF and PB in patients seronegative and seropositive for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Frequencies of CD4CD28T cells in paired PB and SF of patients seropositive for HCMV

CD4CD28T cells from peripheral blood and synovial fluid show human cytomegalovirus specificity

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Skewed distribution of proinflammatory CD4CD28T cells in rheumatoid arthritis"</p><p>http://arthritis-research.com/content/9/5/R87</p><p>Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007;9(5):R87-R87.</p><p>Published online 7 Sep 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2212553.</p><p></p> The functional capacity of CD4CD28T cells in peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) was investigated after stimulation of mononuclear cells from paired PB and SF from rheumatoid arthritis patients by plate-bound anti-CD3 antibodies. The reactivity of CD4CD28T cells in paired PB and SF to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) antigens was analysed after stimulation by the pp65 or immediate early (IE) antigens