Reiter cells are macrophages containing ingested polymorph nuclei that are commonly found in most inflammatory synovial fluids. Available data indicate that CD36 and CD14 on human monocyte derived macrophages are adhesion molecules involved in several biological processes.1 Of interest, their role in the process of adhesion and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells has been recently demonstrated.2-5

Jones and colleagues demonstrated reduced Reiter cells in the synovial fluids from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that Reiter cells play a regulatory part in preventing autolysis of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and thus local tissue damage.6

The purpose of this study was to evaluate by histochemical technique whether Reiter cells express CD36 and CD14 in inflammatory synovial fluids.

We analysed the synovial fluids obtained from the knee joints of 10 patients suffering from inflammatory joint diseases of recent onset (< 6 weeks). Three patients had seropositive active rheumatoid arthritis, four patients had seronegative spondyloarthritis (two reactive arthritis, one psoriatic arthritis, one enteroarthritis) and three patients had …