Abstract
Fibulin-3 (Fib-3) is a new potential biomarker of articular cartilage metabolism. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of anti-TNF therapy on serum fibulin-3, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), procollagen II C-propeptide (PIICP), and urinary C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II) levels in relation to calprotectin (MRP8/14) and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients. In the study, 35 female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were investigated. The concentration of fibulin-3, COMP, PIICP, MRP8/14, and urinary CTX-II in serum was measured before and after anti-TNF therapy. Ten healthy women were investigated as the controls. The concentration of fibulin-3 in RA patients before treatment did not differ significantly from the concentration of fibulin-3 in the control group. A significantly higher concentration of fibulin-3 was noted prior to treatment in the group of women with a worse response to the therapy (non-responders) compared to the concentration of fibulin-3 in the healthy women. During the anti-TNF therapy, the serum fibulin-3 level decreased in patients. The fibulin-3 level correlated with CRP and ESR after anti-TNF treatment. Significant lowering of MRP8/14 was noted in the patients after anti-TNF therapy. No correlation between fibulin-3 and MRP8/14 was observed in the study group or in the control group. During the anti-TNF therapy, the serum fibulin-3 level decreased in RA patients. Serum MRP8/14 concentration also decreased. No correlation between fibulin-3 and MRP8/14 was observed in the study group before and after the treatment. We found a poor correlation between serum fibulin-3 and other cartilage metabolism biomarkers after anti-TNF therapy.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease associated with synovial inflammation as well as cartilage and bone destruction
During the anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, the serum fibulin-3 level decreased in RA patients
We found a poor correlation between serum fibulin-3 and other cartilage metabolism biomarkers after anti-TNF therapy
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease associated with synovial inflammation as well as cartilage and bone destruction. Cartilage metabolism may be monitored with evaluation of the synthesis and degradation of cartilage products. Biological markers are the object of increasing interest in diagnostics and osteoarthritis (OA) monitoring.[1] In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, attempts have been made for many years to find biomarkers which would facilitate monitoring the activity of the disease and predicting the response to treatment in RA patients. An analysis of single indicators in laboratory diagnostics for cartilage damage in the course of rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis may not be of much use; combining several indicators could make the task easier. Fibulin-3 (Fib-3) is a new potential biomarker of articular cartilage metabolism
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