Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2010
Engagement of fatty acids with Toll-like receptor 2 drives interleukin-1β production via the ASC/caspase 1 pathway in monosodium urate monohydrate crystal-induced gouty arthritis.
The concept that intraarticular crystals of uric acid by themselves trigger episodes of painful gouty arthritis is inconsistent with the clinical reality. Patients with large deposits of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals (tophi) do not necessarily experience gouty attacks. In fact, it is the excessive consumption of food or alcohol that elicits the inflammation of the acute gout attack. The aim of this study was to identify the precise mechanism that initiates flares of gouty arthritis. ⋯ The synergistic effect between FFAs and MSU crystals leads to ASC/caspase 1-driven IL-1β release. This mechanism could explain how constitutionally derived metabolic events initiate attacks of gout via the induction of IL-1β-mediated joint inflammation.