Study on the Fractionation of Synovial Fluid Protein

ABSTRACT

Fractionation of protein components of the human synovial fluid was carried out with paper and disc electrophoresis, and isoelectric focusing. The mean ranges of total protein content of synovial fluid obtained in the thirty patients suffering from nonspecific and traumatic synovitis, degenerative osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis were 3.8 to 4.6g/dl. There was no significant difference between each from of arthritis. The pattern of protein fractionation of synovial fluid by paper electrophoresis was similar to that of serum protein. On disc electrophoresis, 20 fractions were identified in synovial fluid and the main fraction was albumin. Isoelectric focusing of the human serum with Ampholine carrier ampholyte in thin layer polyacrylamide gel revealed 27 protein fractions and five isoenzymes of amylase and two of them were the main fractions. In the synovial fluid 22 protein fractions and two isoenzymes of amylase, which had the same isoelectric points as the main fractions of serum, were noted. It is suggested that the isoamylases in the synovial fluid are a dialysate of plasma enzymes.