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Synthesis of underpolymerized hyaluronic acid by fibroblasts cultured from rheumatoid and non-rheumatoid synovitis

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Summary

Fibroblast cultures were started from synovial tissue of normal controls and patients with seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and chronic non-rheumatoid synovitis. Glycosaminoglycan synthesis of the cultures was studied by metabolic labeling with 3H-glucosamine. Molecular weight of hyaluronic acid produced and secreted into culture medium by these fibroblast strains was studied by gel filtration in a Sepharose 2 B column. All fibroblast strains from joints with active inflammation produced hyaluronate with decreased molecular weight. The synthesis of underpolymerized hyaluronate thus appears to be a property of activated synovial fibroblasts common to rheumatoid and non-rheumatoid inflammation.

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Vuorio, E., Einola, S., Hakkaramen, S. et al. Synthesis of underpolymerized hyaluronic acid by fibroblasts cultured from rheumatoid and non-rheumatoid synovitis. Rheumatol Int 2, 97–102 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00541160

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00541160

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