Summary
The concentration of phospholipids and proteins was determined in 23 inflammatory synovial fluids obtained from human knee joints. The synovial fluid to plasma phospholipid ratio (0.48 and 0.37 at high and low inflammatory state) was lower than the value found for the total protein content (0.68 and 0.53, respectively) indicating that phospholipids were more discriminated than proteins in their transfer from plasma to the synovial space. Constant amounts of phosphatidylinositol were found in all synovial fluids, whereas trace amounts of lysophosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine were more frequent in the active inflammatory state. A decrease in the relative amounts of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol with respect to plasma suggested the possibility of phospholipid hydrolysis in the synovial compartment. In agreement, determinations of phospholipase activity disclosed the presence of a phospholipase A2 in the fluid phase of synovial effusions. Phospholipid derivatives formed in the synovial space may thus contribute to the amplification of the inflammatory response.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bole GG (1962) Synovial fluid lipids in normal individuals and patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 5:589–601
Gandolfi L, Davalli C, Frizziero L (1966) I lipidi nel liquido sinoviale normale e patologico. Studio con cromatografia gassosa e su strato sottile. Arch Pathol Clin Med 42:194–209
Kita M (1969) Synovial fluid lipids in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Fukuoka Acta Medica 39:222–236
Small DM, Cohen AS, Schmid K (1964) Lipoproteins of synovial fluid as studied by analytical ultracentrifugation. J Clin Invest 43:2070–2079
Billah MM, Lapetina EG, Cuatrecasas P (1981) Phospholipase A2 activity specific for phosphatidic acid. A possible mechanism for the production of arachidonic acid in platelets. J Biol Chem 256:5399–5403
Nishizuka Y (1984) The role of protein kinase C in cell surface signal transduction and tumour promotion. Nature 308:693–698
Boarato E, Mietto L, Toffano G, Bigon E, Bruni A (1984) Different responses of rodent mast cells to lysophosphatidylserine. Agents Actions 14:613–618
Mietto L, Boarato E, Toffano G, Bigon E, Bruni A (1984) Local effects of lysophosphatidylserine in rats. Agents Actions 14:606–612
Bruni A, Bigon E, Battistella A, Boarato E, Mietto L, Toffano G (1984) Lysophosphatidylserine as histamine releaser in mice and rats. Agents Actions 14:619–625
Breckenridge WC, Palmer FBStC (1982) Fatty acid composition of human plasma lipoprotein phosphatidylinositol. Biochim Biophys Acta 712:707–711
Lunec J, Dormandy TL (1979) Fluorescent lipid peroxidation products in synovial fluid. Clin Sci 56:53–59
Hills BA, Butler BD (1984) Surfactants identified in synovial fluid and their ability to act as boundary lubricants. Ann Rheum Dis 43:641–648
McCarty DJ (1979) Synovial fluid. In: McCarty DJ (ed) Arthritis and allied conditions. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, pp 51–69
Folch J, Lees M, Sloane-Stanley GH (1957) A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J Biol Chem 226:497–509
Billah MM, Lapetina EG (1982) Formation of lysophosphatidylinositol in platelets stimulated with thrombin or ionophore A 23187. J Biol Chem 257:5196–5200
Skipski VP, Barclay M (1969) Thin-layer chromatography of lipids. Methods Enzymol 14:530–598
Kudoh T, Velkoff MA, Wenger DA (1983) Uptake and metabolism of radioactively labeled sphingomyelin in cultured skin fibroblasts from controls and patients with Niemann-Pick disease and other lysosomal storage diseases. Biochim Biophys Acta 754:82–92
Elsbach P (1965) Uptake of fat by phagocytic cells. An examination of the role of phagocytosis. I. Rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Biochim Biophys Acta 98:402–419
Lees MB (1957) Preparation and analysis of phosphatides. Methods Enzymol 3:328–345
Lowry HO, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275
Van Den Bosch H (1980) Intracellular phospholipase A. Biochim Biophys Acta 604:191–246
Zwaal RFA (1978) Membrane and lipid involvement in blood coagulation. Biochim Biophys Acta 515:163–205
Tanaka Y, Schroit AJ (1983) Insertion of fluorescent phosphatidylserine into the plasma membrane of red blood cells. Recognition by autologous macrophages. J Biol Chem 258:11335–11343
Crisp AJ, Chapman CM, Kirkham SE, Schiller AL, Krane SM (1984) Articular mastocytosis in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 27:845–851
Godfrey HP, Ilardi C, Engber W, Graziano FM (1984) Quantitation of human synovial mast cells in rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Arthritis Rheum 27:852–856
Franzon R, Dobrov R, Weiss J, Elsbach P, Weglicki WB (1978) Isolation and characterization of a phospholipase A2 from an inflammatory exudate. J Lipid Res 19:18–23
Hadler NM, Spitznagel JK, Quinet RJ (1979) Lysosomal enzymes in inflammatory synovial effusions. J Immunol 123:572–577
Vadas P, Pruzanski W, Stefanski E (1984) Identification and characterization of phospholipase A2 in synovial fluids in arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 27 (Suppl):25
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Punzi, L., Todesco, S., Toffano, G. et al. Phospholipids in inflammatory synovial effusions. Rheumatol Int 6, 7–11 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270658
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270658