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Arthritis Research & Therapy
Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Osteoarthrosis | Research article

Immune cell profiles in synovial fluid after anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injuries

Authors: Sophia Y. Kim-Wang, Abigail G. Holt, Alyssa M. McGowan, Stephanie T. Danyluk, Adam P. Goode, Brian C. Lau, Alison P. Toth, Jocelyn R. Wittstein, Louis E. DeFrate, John S. Yi, Amy L. McNulty

Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus tears are common knee injuries. Despite the high rate of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) following these injuries, the contributing factors remain unclear. In this study, we characterized the immune cell profiles of normal and injured joints at the time of ACL and meniscal surgeries.

Methods

Twenty-nine patients (14 meniscus-injured and 15 ACL-injured) undergoing ACL and/or meniscus surgery but with a normal contralateral knee were recruited. During surgery, synovial fluid was aspirated from both normal and injured knees. Synovial fluid cells were pelleted, washed, and stained with an antibody cocktail consisting of fluorescent antibodies for cell surface proteins. Analysis of immune cells in the synovial fluid was performed by polychromatic flow cytometry. A broad spectrum immune cell panel was used in the first 10 subjects. Based on these results, a T cell-specific panel was used in the subsequent 19 subjects.

Results

Using the broad spectrum immune cell panel, we detected significantly more total viable cells and CD3 T cells in the injured compared to the paired normal knees. In addition, there were significantly more injured knees with T cells above a 500-cell threshold. Within the injured knees, CD4 and CD8 T cells were able to be differentiated into subsets. The frequency of total CD4 T cells was significantly different among injury types, but no statistical differences were detected among CD4 and CD8 T cell subsets by injury type.

Conclusions

Our findings provide foundational data showing that ACL and meniscus injuries induce an immune cell-rich microenvironment that consists primarily of T cells with multiple T helper phenotypes. Future studies investigating the relationship between immune cells and joint degeneration may provide an enhanced understanding of the pathophysiology of PTOA following joint injury.
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Metadata
Title
Immune cell profiles in synovial fluid after anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injuries
Authors
Sophia Y. Kim-Wang
Abigail G. Holt
Alyssa M. McGowan
Stephanie T. Danyluk
Adam P. Goode
Brian C. Lau
Alison P. Toth
Jocelyn R. Wittstein
Louis E. DeFrate
John S. Yi
Amy L. McNulty
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Arthritis Research & Therapy / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1478-6362
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-021-02661-1

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