Protease_3.75 Activity in Rheumatoid Tissues

Abstract

Protease activity was estimated polarographically at pH 3.75 from specimens of serum, synovial fluid, synovial tissue and cartilage. Marked protease activity was found in rheumatoid synovial fluid and synovial tissue. In cartilage, however, the activity was low. Protease activity values in rheumatoid sera did not differ significantly from those of the controls. In osteoarthritic joint fluid protease activity was also low, and in traumatic synovium extremely low. No correlation was found between protease activity and several parameters of rheumatoid inflammation.