Induction of arthritis by purified cell-derived chemotactic factor: role of chemotaxis and vascular permeability.

The injection of monosidium urate-induced chemotactic factor into the joint cavities of rabbits induces an acute inflammatory response that resembles the one produced by monosodium urate crystals. The leukocyte accumulation induced by the factor was not accompanied by a measurable increase in vascular permeability as measured by appearance of 125I-albumin in the joint cavity. When histamine was injected into the joints, a marked increase in vascular permeability but no leukocytosis above control levels was observed. The above results suggest that the cell-derived factor is primarily responsible for the accumulation of cells seen in the acute inflammation induced by monosodium urate crystals.