To investigate the mechanism of TWEAK on Rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA FLS) activation and articular destruction by analyzing expression of TWEAKR/Fn14 on RA FLS.
FLS was co-cultured with rhTWEAK, with TNF-alpha or IL-1beta as a synergistic stimulator. Expression of TWEAKR/Fn14 protein on RA FLS was detected by Immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. The fn14 mRNA was measured by RT-PCR.
TWEAKR/Fn14 was expressed on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm of RA FLS. TWEAKR/Fn14 mRNA and protein induced by 100 microg/L TWEAK were higher than the control group. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta had synergistic effect on expression of TWEAKR/Fn14 in RA FLS.
TWEAKR/Fn14 was expressed on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm of RA FLS, and recombinant TWEAK further enhanced the TWEAKR/Fn14 expression. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta had synergistic effect on the biological activity of TWEAK by increasing the expression of TWEAKR/Fn14 on RA FLS.