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Arthritis Research pp 365–375Cite as

Acquisition, Culture, and Phenotyping of Synovial Fibroblasts

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Medicine ((MIMM,volume 135))

Abstract

The study of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) has yielded important insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of rheumatoid arthritis. FLS can be cultured from synovial tissue obtained at joint replacement surgery, synovectomy, or synovial biopsy. After collagenase digestion, adherent cells consist mainly of synovial fibroblasts and synovial macrophages. Proliferating FLS are enriched by repeated passage and comprise >95% of cells by passage 3. Because of cell senescence, use of FLS lines after passage 9 is generally not recommended. FLS in culture have a distinct phenotype with regard to morphology, ultrastructure, surface phenotype, and function. Surface markers that can be used to characterize FLS include positive staining for VCAM-1, CD44, CD55, CD90 (Thy-1), and cadherin-11, coupled with the absence of macrophage markers such as CD14 or CD68.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA

    Sanna Rosengren, David L. Boyle & Gary S. Firestein

Authors
  1. Sanna Rosengren
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  2. David L. Boyle
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  3. Gary S. Firestein
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College London, London, UK

    Andrew P. Cope

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© 2007 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Rosengren, S., Boyle, D.L., Firestein, G.S. (2007). Acquisition, Culture, and Phenotyping of Synovial Fibroblasts. In: Cope, A.P. (eds) Arthritis Research. Methods in Molecular Medicine, vol 135. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-401-8_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-401-8_24

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-344-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-401-8

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