
Division of Rheumatology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, the Netherlands,
* Division of Nephrology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, the Netherlands,
Division of Pathology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Correspondence: P.L.E.M. van Lent, Division of Rheumatology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein 26-28, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. E-mail: p.vanlent{at}reuma.azn.nl.
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Key Words: joint inflammation immune complexes synovium apoptotic cells synovial lining macrophages chemotaxis
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vß3 [5
], CD36 [6
], the ATP-binding
cassette transporter ABC-1 [7
], class A scavenger
receptor [8
], CD14 [9
], and possible
low-density lipoprotein receptor CD68 [10
] have been
involved in apoptotic cell clearance. On the apoptotic cell, however,
only one surface changethe exposure of phosphatidylserinehas been
firmly linked with the clearance mechanism [11
], whereas
recently it was found that ICAM-3 (CD50) is also important in the
recognition of apoptotic leukocytes by macrophages [12
]. Both apoptosis and the removal of apoptotic cells are essential to prevent leakage of potentially harmful intracellular contents into the micro-environment [13 , 14 ]. In contrast to complement or Fc-mediated phagocytosis, the uptake of apoptotic cells does not promote inflammation [15 ]. In fact, recent data even indicate that the phagocytosis of apoptotic material by macrophages causes the release of mediators that actively inhibit the inflammatory response [16 17 18 19 ].
Di-arthrodial joints are covered by a thin layer of cells, the synovial intima [20 ]. In the mouse, the synovial intima consists mainly of macrophage-like type A cells. Recent studies have shown that these cells are of utmost importance for the onset [21 22 ], propagation [23 ], and exacerbation [24 ] of experimental arthritis. They probably form an important source of chemokines, which are released on activation by cytokines such as interleukin-1 [22 ].
Earlier we developed a model of immune complexmediated arthritis (ICA) in the mouse. Arthritis is induced by local injection of the antigen lysozyme into the knee joint of mice that previously were given specific antilysozyme antibodies intravenously [25 ]. Maximal knee joint inflammation is found at day 2. At that stage, many inflammatory cells undergo apoptosis in the knee joint cavity. Apoptotic cells can be removed by polymorphonuclear cells present in the joint cavity or by synovial lining macrophages. Inhibition of synovial macrophages due to apoptotic cell uptake may have implications for the onset and propagation of joint inflammation.
In this study, we investigated whether apoptotic leukocytes can be phagocytosed by synovial lining cells during experimental ICA, whether macrophages that have phagocytosed apoptotic cells modulate the chemotactic activity in vitro, and the impact of apoptotic cell uptake by SLMs on the onset of experimental arthritis. Our study indicates that apoptotic cells are phagocytosed by synovial lining macrophages and that this leads to inhibition of the cell influx into the joint cavity in which experimental arthritis is subsequently elicited.
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Induction of ICA
ICA was induced as described earlier [25
]. Three
micrograms of Henn Egg Lysozyme coupled to poly-L-lysine was injected
into the knee joints of mice that had previously been given 0.2 mL
antilysozyme antibodies intravenously. The first signs of arthritis
were observed at 6 h, and maximal inflammation was found at day 2
after arthritis induction.
Light microscopy
Knee joints were fixed in buffered formalin, decalcified in
formic acid, and embedded in paraffin. Whole knee joint sections (6
m) were cut on a Reichert microtome, mounted on gelatin-coated
slides, and stained with hematoxylin/eosin as described earlier
[26
].
Electron microscopy
Synovia were dissected from the knee joint and fixed in 2%
glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer pH 7.4 for 2 h.
Subsequently, the synovia were washed in cacodylate buffer, postfixed
in 1% OsO4 for 1 h, and washed and dehydrated in increasing
concentrations of ethanol. The 100% ethanol was replaced by 1,2
propylene-oxide and subsequently embedded in epon 812. Sections (90 nM)
were cut with a Reichert microtome and stained with uranyl acetate and
lead citrate. The sections were studied with an electron microscope
(Jeol 1200EX, Japan).
Isolation of thymocytes and apoptosis induction
After cervical dislocation, the thymus of a BALB/c mouse was
removed and stored in 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) on ice. Apoptosis
was induced as described [27
]. Briefly, a single-cell
suspension of thymocytes was seeded in 10% FBS in Dulbeccos modified
Eagles medium (DMEM) (10% FBS/DMEM) supplemented with 1
m
dexamethasone (Genfarma, Maarssen, the Netherlands). After 3 h of
incubation, the cells were washed 3 times in medium and resuspended in
1 mL of 10% FBS/DMEM. Apoptosis was determined by
annexin-V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining [28
,
29
], which was analyzed in a Coulter EpicsXL flow
cytometer (Coulter Corporation, Hialiah, FL) equipped with a 488-nM
Argon laser.
Isolation of resident peritoneal macrophages
Resident peritoneal macrophages were isolated as previously
described [27
]. Briefly, closed peritoneal lavage was
performed on non-anesthetized mice. The peritoneal lavage was kept on
ice until seeding on plastic coverslips in 10% FBS/DMEM and allowed to
settle and adhere for 1.5 h, after which nonadherent cells were
removed by washing with 10% FBS.
Macrophage and apoptotic cell interaction in vitro
In vitro phagocytosis and subsequent scoring were performed as
described previously [26
]. In short, macrophages and
apoptotic thymocytes were allowed to interact for 10 min or 1 h,
after which the coverslips were rinsed with 10% FBS/DMEM, using a
Pasteur pipette to remove nonphagocytosed thymocytes. Immediately after
interaction, coverslips were spin-dried, fixed, and stained.
Preparations were scored at 400x magnification by regular light
microscopy.
Determination of chemotactic activity
Isolation of PMNs
Murine neutrophil granulocytes (PMNs) were isolated after
implantation of gelatin sponges (Willospon; Will-Pharma, Zwanenburg,
the Netherlands), a method developed by Middleton and Campbell
[30
]. After cells were collected, analysis of the
cytospin products showed that the cell suspension consisted
predominantly of neutrophil granulocytes (99%).
Chemotactic assay
PMN chemotaxis was measured using 12-well 6.5-mm Costar
Transwell culture plate inserts equipped with polycarbonate filters
(no. 3415, pore size 3 µm, polyvinyl pyrrolidone free; Costar,
Cambridge, MA). Next, 105 peritoneal macrophages were
attached to coverslips and 5 x 105 apoptotic cells or
non-apoptotic control cells were added and incubated for 1 h.
Non-ingested apoptotic or intact thymocytes were washed away by rinsing
the coverslips in 37oC DMEM. Macrophages were activated by
lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) (5 µg/ml) for 5 h. Then 500 µL of
culture supernatant was added to the bottom chamber of the transwell.
Subsequently, 100 µL of PMN suspension (105 cells/mL) was
loaded above the filter and incubated for 2 h at 37oC
in humified 5% CO2. As a positive control, 5%
zymosan-activated serum was used. Fresh serum was activated by 10%
zymosan for 1 h at 37oC. Phosphate-buffered saline
(PBS) was used as a negative control. Thereafter, cells in the bottom
chamber were counted by using a hemocytometer. We also made a
cytocentrifuge of 100 µL of supernatant. PMNs were stained with
Giemsa-May-Grünwald and counted under the microscope. Results are
expressed as the total number of cells in the bottom chamber 2 h
after incubation.
Injection of apoptotic cells into murine knee joints
Apoptotic (AN+/PI-) cells were injected (2 x
106 /6
L 10% FBS/DMEM) into the knee joint of BALB/c
mice. Apoptotic cells were injected in normal knee joints. At several
time points (10, 30, and 60 min) after injection of apoptotic cells,
mice were sacrificed and total knee joints or synovial specimens were
processed by light and electron microscopy. Furthermore, apoptotic
cells were injected in knee joints 1 h before arthritis induction.
Total knee joint sections were stained with hematoxylin/eosin or
immunostained with NIMP-R14 (an antibody that specifically binds a
2530-kD epitope mainly found on PMNs [31
]).
Briefly, sections were deparaffinized and pre-incubated for 15 min at RT with 20% normal rabbit serum. Thereafter, sections were incubated with NIMP-R14 antibodies for 1 h. After incubation with the second antibody rabbit anti-rat peroxidase for 30 min, the sections were stained for hematoxylin for 30 s. As a negative control, sections were incubated with normal rat IgG instead of NIMP-R14. Joint inflammation was scored as the total amount of PMNs found in synovium (infiltrate) and knee joint cavity (exsudate) using an arbitrary scale of 03 (0=no PMNs; 1=few; 2=some; 3=many).
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Figure 1. Murine knee joints were isolated 48 h after induction of immune
complexmediated arthritis. Prominent binding and uptake of leukocytes
by synovial lining macrophages (SLMs) in knee joint sections stained
with hematoxylin and eosin (A) was found by light microscopy. The upper
half of (A) represents the joint cavity infiltrated mainly with PMN,
whereas the lower half shows the synovial layer with the thin lining
layer containing predominantly type A macrophages (see arrows). The
electron micrograph shows binding of PMNs and phagocytosis of an
apoptotic PMN (Fig. 2B)
. Uptake was only found in synovial lining
macrophages. JC = joint cavity, SM = synovial macrophages,
L = leukocyte, S = synovium, AC = apoptotic cell.
Original magnification of light micrographs x200 and electron
micrographs x6750.
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Figure 2. Uptake of early apoptotic cells by murine peritoneal macrophages
attached to coverslips. Coverslips were fixed 60 min after the addition
of apoptotic cells and were stained with hematoxylin/eosin. Original
magnification x1000.
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Figure 3. Migration of purified mouse PMNs in the transwell chemotaxis assay.
Significantly reduced migration of PMN was seen to culture supernatants
of LPS-activated macrophages that previously had engulfed early
apoptotic cells as compared to LPS-activated control macrophages. As a
positive control, 5% zymosan-activated serum (ZAS)/DMEM was used. We
used DMEM as a negative control. Values represent the mean
±SD of six measurements. data were evaluated with the
mann-whitney u test (**P<0.05).
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Histological examination of total knee joints at 10, 20, and 30 min after injection of intact AN+/PI- cells showed no binding and uptake of these cells by synovial lining cells (data not shown). In contrast, a clear binding to and uptake of AN+/PI- apoptotic cells was found (Fig. 4A ). About 10% of the cells injected in the joint cavity bound to the lining layer 10 min after injection. The binding decreased thereafter. Electron microscopy identified type A cells, characterized by large cell protrusions, as the cell type that phagocytosed apoptotic cells (Fig. 4B) . Type B cells, which have a more fibroblastic appearance, did not bind or phagocytose apoptotic cells.
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Figure 4. Light (A) and electron micrographs (B) of knee joints, shortly after
injection of apoptotic cells directly into the knee joint (2 x
106 apoptotic cells in 6 l 10% FBS/DMEM). In the knee
joints, apoptotic cells were ungulfed by type A lining macrophages
covering the inside of the knee joints 10 min after intra-articular
injection. SM = synovial macrophage, AC = apoptotic cell.
Magnification light micrograph (A) = x1000 and electron
micrograph (B) = x9700.
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Figure 5. Cell influx into the joint cavity (exudate) or synovium (infiltrate) in
arthritic knee joint sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin was
scored on a 03 scale (0=no influx, 1=minor, 2=moderate, 3=marked).
One hour before arthritis induction, 2 x 106
apoptotic cells in 6 µL 10% FBS/DMEM were injected into the knee
joints. Note the significant reduction in cell influx in the exudate at
24 h but not at 6 h after arthritis induction (A and
micrographs B = intact cells injected versus C = apoptotic cell
injected). No differences were found in the infiltrate both at 6 and
24 h. Values represent 2 experiments with 5 mice per group.
*P < 0.05 versus PBS alone by Mann-Whitney U test. P =
patella, F = femur, JS = joint space, S = synovium.
Original magnification of photographs x400.
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First we studied the effect of apoptotic cell uptake by macrophages on
chemotactic activity for PMN. Using a transwell chemotactic assay for
PMNs, we found that chemotactic activity produced by activated
macrophages was significantly decreased when they had engulfed
apoptotic cells. Dexamethasone used for induction of apoptotis in
thymocytes may have an effect on macrophage function. However, the
dexamethasone concentration measured in the apoptotic cell suspension
was lower than 10-11 mM, and this concentration had no
effect on cytokine production (IL-1ß, TNF
) by macrophages after
stimulation by LPS (data not shown). Earlier studies revealed that
apoptotic cell uptake by mouse J744 macrophages inhibited synthesis and
secretion of the chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2)
and macrophage inflammatory protein-1
(MIP-1
), which
predominantly attract PMNs. The predominantly monocyte-attracting
chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1/JE), however, was not
inhibited [18
]. Furthermore, the production of other
mediators such as IL-1 [34
] and enzymes
[35
] was decreased. Inhibition of chemokine production
is probably regulated by TGF-ß since this growth factor was increased
[18
, 19
, 36
], whereas
anti-TGF-ß neutralizing antibodies reversed the inhibiting effect of
apoptotic cell uptake [34
]. Moreover, TGF-ß is
released by human macrophages in response to ingestion of apoptotic
neutrophils [34
], whereas exogenous TGF-ß
down-regulated the synthesis of the PMN-specific chemokine production
[18
].
To determine whether this in vitro inhibitory effect was also found in vivo, we first investigated whether early apoptotic cells are engulfed by type A intimal cells if injected into the joint. Type A intimal cells lie within a reticular network that is presumably a product of type B synovial cells and consists of collagen type IV, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, and laminin [37 ]. Despite the layer surrounding the synovial type A cells, we found prominent binding and uptake of apoptotic cells at 10 min after intra-articular injection. More than 18 distinct integrins have been described on the synovial macrophage that may be involved in this process [37 ]. During joint inflammation, the components of the reticular network surrounding the macrophage are partly degraded by enzymes, which may thus lead to exposure of receptors that are more efficiently involved in clearance of apoptotic cells.
We further analyzed whether apoptotic cell uptake by type A cells had
consequences for joint inflammation. When injected into murine knee
joints before experimental arthritis induction, apoptotic cells caused
inhibition of PMN influx within the joint cavity. In the immune complex
arthritis model, two chemotactic factors seem of utmost importance for
PMN migration: namely, C5a and IL-1. Elimination of C5a by Cobra venom
factor pretreatment before arthritis induction prevented PMN migration
for the most part [25
]. C5a probably forms the main
PMN-attracting component during the first hours of this arthritis.
Since we found no effect of apoptotic cell uptake by synovial
macrophages on arthritis development after 6 h, we concluded that
apoptotic cells probably do not alter C5a generation. The second major
regulating factor is IL-1, which is formed several hours after the
onset of arthritis [25
]. Neutralization of the formed
IL-1 using anti-IL-1 antibodies [25
] or IL-1ra
[38
] largely prevented the influx of PMNs. IL-1 is not
chemotactic but probably acts by mediating the production of
PMN-attractive factors such as MIP-2 and MIP-1
by synovial
macrophages. Engulfment of apoptotic cells by macrophages may thus
inhibit synthesis and secretion of these PMN-attracting chemokines
either directly or indirectly by lowering IL-1 production. Synovial
lining macrophages were important producers of chemokines in this model
since selective removal of these cells using clodronate-containing
liposomes before arthritis induction prevented both joint inflammation
and chemokine production [39
].
Engulfment of apoptotic cells by lining macrophages significantly inhibited PMN migration into the joint cavity but not in the synovial layer 24 h after arthritis induction. In earlier studies we found that complete removal of type A cells before ICA induction completely blocked synovial and joint cavity cell influx [39 ]. It seems likely that apoptotic cell engulfment blocks superficial lining macrophage activation only in part, because the local chemokine levels are sufficient to attract inflammatory cells into the synovium but insufficient to promote traffic to the joint space. When other particles, such as empty liposomes, were injected, they were also selectively taken up by lining macrophages, but this did not alter the onset and severity of ICA [21 ], which means that the uptake of particles alone does not lower the inflammatory function of the lining macrophage.
During RA, large amounts of inflammatory cells are found within the synovial fluid. These cells posses potent degrading enzymes and pro-inflammatory mediators, and their removal is vital for resolution of the inflammation. Apoptosis and subsequent disposal by macrophages have been a major route for direct removal of effete inflammatory cells. This study shows that apoptotic cells are engulfed by resident synovial lining macrophages, which are crucial in the onset, propagation, and exacerbation of arthritis. Inhibition of residential synovial macrophages lining the joint cavity, by uptake of apoptotic cells, may be an important physiological mechanism contributing to the resolution of joint inflammation.
Received March 17, 2001; revised July 1, 2001; accepted July 9, 2001.
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vB3/CD36/thrombospondin recognition mechanism and lack of phlogistic response Am. J. Pathol. 149,911-921[Abstract]
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