Lymphocyte Populations in Joint Tissues from Dogs with Inflammatory Stifle Arthritis and Associated Degenerative Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture

摘要

Objective: To evaluate lymphocyte populations in stifle synovium and synovial fluid of dogs with degenerative cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR).Study Design: Prospective clinical study.Animals: Dogs (n = 25) with stifle arthritis and CCLR, 7 dogs with arthritis associated with cartilage degeneration (osteoarthritis [OA]), and 12 healthy Beagle dogs with intact CCL.Methods: Arthritis was graded radiographically in CCLR dogs. After collection of joint tissues, mononuclear cells were isolated and subsequently analyzed using flow cytometry for expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD21.Results: The proportions of CD4(+) T helper lymphocytes, CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and CD3(+) CD4(-) CD8(-) T lymphocytes were increased in synovium from dogs with CCLR compared with synovium from healthy Beagle dogs (P < .05). The proportion of CD3(+) CD4(-) CD8- T lymphocytes in synovial fluid was increased in dogs with CCLR compared with dogs with OA (P < .05). In dogs with CCLR, the proportion of CD3(+) CD4(-) CD8(-) T lymphocytes in synovial fluid was inversely correlated with radiographic arthritis (SR= -0.68, P < .005).Conclusion: Lymphocytic inflammation of stifle synovium and synovial fluid is an important feature of the CCLR arthropathy. Lymphocyte populations include T lymphocytes expressing CD4 and CD8, and CD3(+) CD4(-) CD8(-) T lymphocytes. Presence of CD3(+) CD4(-) CD8(-) T lymphocytes was associated with development of stifle synovitis. Further work is needed to fully identify the phenotype of these cells.