pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals

Accepted for publication 20 April 1993 Abstract Objectives-Little is known about the effect on crystal induced neutrophil responses of the opsonisation of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) (triclinic) crystals with components of serum and plasma. The purpose ofthis study was to determine the effects of precoating CPPD crystals with plasma, serum, complement depleted serum, and IgG on a full range of crystal induced neutrophil responses (calcium mobilisation, chemiluminescence, superoxide anion production, non-cytolytic lysosomal enzyme release, and leukotriene synthesis). Methods-Crystals were precoated with IgG, serum, plasma, or complement depleted serum (heated at 56°C), incubated with neutrophils and the responses monitored with time. Measurement of the extent of neutrophil association with crystals was based on monitoring the decrease in fluorescence intensity of supernatants when crystals and diphenylhexatriene labelled neutrophils were allowed to settle under gravity. Results-Precoating CPPD crystals with IgG, plasma, and serum significantly enhanced chemiluminescence, superoxide anion generation, increases in cytosolic free calcium levels, and non-cytolytic lysosomal enzyme release by neutrophils compared with uncoated CPPD crystals. The enhancement of neutrophil responses by crystals coated with complement depleted serum was less pronounced. The increased neutrophil responses induced by CPPD crystals coated with IgG might have been due to the observed increase in the association ofIgG coated crystals with neutrophils. Conclusions-These data show that there is a marked potentiation of all neutrophil responses to IgG, plasma, and serum coated CPPD crystals. It is suggested that the adsorption of synovial fluid proteins, including IgG and C3b, to CPPD crystals in vivo, results in the opsonised crystals becoming a potent neutrophil stimulant and inflammatory agent.