Author(s)

Lisa J. M. Rump¹, Derek L. Mattey^2,3, Oksana Kehoe^1,2, Jim Middleton^1,4

¹Keele University, Arthritis Research Centre at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital Foundation Trust, Oswestry, UK.
²Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Medical School, Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
³Haywood Rheumatology Centre, Haywood Hospital, High Lane, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
⁴Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Oral and Dental Sciences, Bristol University, Bristol, UK.

Objective: LYVE-1+ macrophages are observed in a range of cancers, where they play a role in tumour lymphangiogenesis. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lymphangiogenesis increases in the early stage of the disease and decreases as it progresses, potentially exacerbating inflammatory cell persistence. We investigated whether LYVE-1+ macrophages were present in RA synovium. Methods: Synovial tissue from RA patients was obtained at joint replacement surgery and immunohistochemistry was performed to visualise LYVE-1+ and CD68+ cells. Results: LYVE-1+ macrophages were present in rheumatoid synovial tissue, the first observation of this kind. Conclusion: Despite the reduction in lymphangiogenesis in chronic RA, LYVE-1 positive macrophages are present and there is a potential role for macrophages in the generation of lymphatic vessels.

LYVE-1, Macrophage, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Endothelial, Lymphatic

J. M. Rump, L. , L. Mattey, D. , Kehoe, O. and Middleton, J. (2016) Novel Identification of LYVE-1 Positive Macrophages in Rheumatoid Synovial Tissue. Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases, 6, 74-78. doi: 10.4236/ojra.2016.63012.