Abstract
Gout, a common form of arthritis, is characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in joints. MSU deposition in synovial tissues would initiate arthritis flares and recurrence, causing irreversible joint damage. However, the dynamic deposition of MSU crystals in tissues lacks experimental observation. In this study, we used chemical-specific, label-free stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy to investigate the spatiotemporal deposition and morphological characteristics of MSU crystals in human synovial organoids. Our findings revealed a critical 12-h window for MSU deposition in the lining layer of gouty synovium. Moreover, distinctive inflammatory reactions of the lining and sublining synovial layers in gout using SRS microscopy were further verified by immunofluorescence. Importantly, we identified a crucial proinflammatory role of sublining fibroblast-like synoviocytes, indicating a need for targeted medication treatment on these cells. Our work contributes to the fundamental understanding of MSU-based diseases and offers valuable insights for the future development of targeted gout therapies.