Rat Knee Synovial Fibroblasts-Immortalized by SV40T Antigens

The synovium is the inner layer of the joint capsule, appearing pale red, smooth, glistening, thin, and pliable, and composed of loose connective tissue. All structures within the joint cavity, except for articular cartilage and menisci, including even tendons and ligaments passing through the joint cavity, are entirely enveloped by the synovium. The synovium secretes synovial fluid, which plays an important role in joint movement. There are two types of synovial cells: Type A and Type B. Macrophage-like Type A cells have filamentous pseudopods, plasmalemmal invaginations, vesicles, mitochondria, lysosomes, cytoplasmic fibers, and a Golgi apparatus on their surface, and possess phagocytic functions. Type B fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) have a high concentration of endoplasmic reticulum structures and are the primary cells mediating joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rat Knee Synovial Fibroblasts-Immortalized by SV40T Antigens were immortalized through lentiviral transfection carrying the SV40 gene (these cells acquire puromycin resistance after transfection).