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Greater levels of synovial inflammation found with rotator cuff tears
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Patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears had robust synovial inflammation and increased inflammatory gene expression compared to patients without rotator cuff pathology, according to results.
Researchers performed synovial sampling in 19 patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears. They also sampled 11 control patients without rotator cuff pathology. Researchers stained and examined cryosections under light microscopy and confocal fluorescent microscopy for anti-cluster CD45, anti-CD31 and anti-CD68 cell surface markers. Researchers used a grading system to quantitate synovitis under light microscopy, used digital image analysis to quantify the immunofluorescence staining area and performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction for validated inflammatory markers.
Results showed the rotator cuff tear group had a significantly increased synovitis score, as well as significantly increased staining for CD31, CD45 and CD68 vs. the control group. Researchers noted CD45+/68– perivascularly, with CD45+/68+ cells toward the joint lining edge of the synovium. Patients with rotator cuff tears experienced significantly increased levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 and interleukin-6 gene expression, with a trend toward significance for interleukin-8, according to univariate analysis. Results also showed increased intensity in the rotator cuff tear group samples in immunofluorescent staining for matrix metalloproteinase-3. Although researchers found a positive correlation between the synovitis score and matrix metalloproteinase-3, results showed no correlation between the synovitis score and tear size or Goutallier classification for patients with rotator cuff tears. Researchers also noted patients with rotator cuff tears had no correlation between matrix metalloproteinase-3 levels and anterior-posterior tear size, amount of retraction or Goutallier classification. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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