ABSTRACT
Appendix ............................................................................................... 155 Keywords .............................................................................................. 156 References ............................................................................................. 156
6.1 INTRODUCTION
Inflammation of synovial joints is accompanied by a decrease in the viscosity of synovial fluid (SF), in which hyaluronan (HA, called also hyaluronic acid; Fig. 1) is the macromolecular component, which imparts the SF viscosity. It has been hypothesized that reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced by (infiltrated) neutrophils, may be responsible for the degradation of HA macromolecules within the SF of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In vitro studies underline that of the various individual ROS, hydroxyl radicals – ●OH are the most degradative against the HA chain [1].
