Localizations of Regulatory Proteins of Complement Components on RA Synovial Tissues — Especially Germinal Centers

We reported that lymphoid follicles of the rheumatoid arthritis(RA) synovial tissues ranged among the most important sites for local immunoreactions1,2. They are thought to promote the production of immunoglobulins during the acute inflammatory phase. Recently regulatory proteins(RPs) have been found which control the complement(C) activation cascade3,4. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the localization of RPs of C components on RA synovial tissues,especially germinal centers.