Primary research Inflammatory microcrystals induce murine macrophage survival and DNA synthesis

Introduction Intra-articular basic calcium phosphate (BCP) (hydroxyapatite, octacalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate) crystal-deposition disease is associated clinically with severe degenerative arthritis characterized by hyperplasia of the synovial lining and loss of intrasynovial collagenous structures [1]. The interaction of the crystals with inflammatory cells is believed to be a key factor in crystalinduced inflammation [2]. Deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals has been associated with the acute inflammatory arthritis of ‘pseudogout’ [3]. Synovial thickening is a common clinical finding in the affected joints of patients with deposition of CPPD crystals. Histologically, synovialcell hyperplasia and infiltration by mononuclear inflammatory cells are seen [3,4]; CPPD crystals are phagocytosed by cells of the synovial lining [4]. Gout, pseudogout, and acute articular and periarticular inflammation caused by Abstract