To examine the expression, regulation, and potential roles of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in arthritic synovium.

Expression of BMPs in arthritic synovium from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondylarthropathy (SpA) and in noninflamed synovium from patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic arthroscopies was studied by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and 2‐color immunofluorescence. In vitro regulation of gene expression in fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS) was determined by real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry. We used ³H‐thymidine incorporation after serum deprivation–induced growth arrest to examine effects on FLS proliferation. FLS apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry cell cycle analysis. Apoptotic cells in synovial tissue were detected by TUNEL staining.

Transcripts of different BMPs, most strikingly BMP‐2 and BMP‐6, were detected in synovial tissues. By Western blot, BMP‐2 and BMP‐6 precursor protein was found in RA and SpA synovial tissue extracts, but not in extracts of noninflamed synovial tissue. By immunohistochemistry, BMP‐2 and BMP‐6 were detected in the hyperplastic lining and the sublining layer of synovium from RA and SpA patients, both in CD90+ cells (FLS) and in some CD68+ cells (macrophages). Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin‐1β and tumor necrosis factor α, but not interferon‐γ, enhanced the expression of BMP‐2 and BMP‐6 transcripts in FLS in vitro. Neither BMP‐2 nor BMP‐6 affected FLS proliferation. BMP‐2 promoted FLS apoptosis, whereas BMP‐6 protected against nitric oxide–induced FLS apoptosis. BMP‐2–positive apoptotic cells were found in arthritic synovium.

BMP‐2 and BMP‐6 are expressed in arthritic synovium and are strongly up‐regulated by proinflammatory cytokines. Although BMP signaling has been proposed to be involved in cartilage and bone repair in arthritis, this pathway may be equally important in modulating FLS cell populations in inflamed synovium.