Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in synovial tissue from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative joint disease.

Abstract

Synovial tissue from patients with RA, DJD, and trauma express bFGF. Increased bFGF staining in the hyperplastic lining synoviocytes and at the pannus-cartilage interface suggests that bFGF may play a role in synovial hyperplasia and joint destruction. Strong cytoplasmic bFGF staining found in mast cells and vascular cells indicates that these cells are the major sources of tissue bFGF.