Increased matrix metalloproteinase-3 serum levels in rheumatic diseases: relationship with synovitis and steroid treatment.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) serum levels in patients with rheumatic diseases and to study the relation between MMP-3 and C reactive protein (CRP) levels.

METHODS:

MMP-3 serum levels were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in (a) patients with active inflammatory rheumatic diseases: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, acute crystal arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis; (b) patients with active inflammatory systemic diseases: cutaneo-articular or renal systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis, and vasculitides; (c) patients with non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases: osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia; (d) critically ill patients without rheumatic diseases, representing an acute inflammatory control group; (e) healthy controls.

RESULTS:

MMP-3 serum levels were significantly increased in patients with active RA, psoriatic arthritis, and polymyalgia rheumatica, whether treated or not by corticosteroids, and in female patients with acute crystal arthritis. MMP-3 serum levels were normal in steroid-free patients with active cutaneo-articular or renal SLE, systemic sclerosis, and vasculitides but were significantly increased in steroid treated patients. MMP-3 levels were normal in fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and acute inflammatory controls. MMP-3 was significantly correlated with CRP in RA (r=0.5, p=0.0004) but not in any of the other disease groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

MMP-3 serum levels are increased in inflammatory rheumatic diseases characterised by joint synovitis, such as RA, polymyalgia rheumatica, psoriatic arthritis, and acute crystal arthritis-that is, whether the diseases are acute or chronic, erosive or not. They are normal in SLE, systemic sclerosis, and vasculitides as well as in non-rheumatic inflammatory controls, but are significantly increased by steroids. These data strongly suggest that serum MMP-3 reflects synovial inflammation.

• Authors: C Ribbens, M Martin y Porras, N Franchimont, M-J Kaiser, J-M Jaspar, P Damas, F A Houssiau, M G Malaise
• Journal: Annals of the rheumatic diseases (Ann Rheum Dis) Vol. 61 Issue 2 Pg. 161-6 (Feb 2002) ISSN: 0003-4967 [Print] England
• PMID: 11796404 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Glucocorticoids
• C-Reactive Protein
• Prednisolone
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 3

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Arthritis, Psoriatic (blood)
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (blood, drug therapy)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Fibromyalgia (blood)
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (blood)
• Male
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 (blood)
• Middle Aged
• Osteoarthritis (blood)
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica (blood)
• Prednisolone (therapeutic use)
• Scleroderma, Systemic (blood)
• Spondylitis, Ankylosing (blood)
• Statistics, Nonparametric
• Vasculitis (blood)