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Pleiotrophin, the angiogenic and mitogenic growth factor: levels in serum and synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

And correlation with clinical, laboratory and radiological indices

Der angiogene und mitogene Wachstumsfaktor Pleiotrophin: Konzentrationen in Serum und Synovia bei rheumatoider Arthritis und Arthrose

Sowie Korrelation mit klinischen, labordiagnostischen und radiologischen Indizes

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Abstract

Background

Few studies have reported a possible involvement of pleiotrophin (PTN) in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA) and very little is known about its role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study is to measure PTN in the sera and synovial fluids in RA and OA and to assess its relation to activity, functional class and radiological staging.

Subjects and methods

Serum and synovial fluid samples were collected from 35 RA patients and 40 knee OA patients and serum samples were withdrawn from 20 healthy controls. Demographic, clinical and serological data were prospectively assessed. Functional and radiographic grades were also assessed. Serum and synovial fluid PTN levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

There was no statistical significant differences (p > 0.05) on comparing the mean PTN level in sera of RA, OA patients and healthy controls. However the mean synovial fluid level of PTN in both patient groups was significantly higher than mean serum level (p < 0.001). Significant correlations between the serum PTN level and both morning stiffness duration (p = 0.008) and mHAQ score (p = 0.039) were only observed in RA patients.

Conclusion

Our results point to a possible important role of PTN in RA and OA. We firstly report a serological pattern of PTN in the sera and synovial fluids of RA patients. However its implementation as a disease marker or a potential target therapy in both diseases awaits larger studies and further investigations.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

In einigen wenigen Studien wurde über eine mögliche Beteiligung von Pleiotrophin (PTN) an den pathophysiologischen Prozessen der Arthrose berichtet. Nur wenig ist über die Rolle bei der rheumatoiden Arthritis (RA) bekannt. Zweck der vorliegenden Studie war es, die PTN-Spiegel in Serum und Synovia bei RA und Arthrose zu bestimmen. Zudem wurde der Zusammenhang mit der Aktivität, dem Funktionsstatus und dem radiologischen Stadium untersucht.

Probanden und Methoden

Serum- und Synoviaproben wurden von 35 Patienten mit RA und 40 Patienten mit Kniegelenksarthrose gewonnen, Serumproben auch von 20 gesunden Kontrollen. Demografische, klinische und serologische Daten wurden prospektiv erfasst. Die funktionellen und röntgenologischen Stadien wurden ebenfalls ermittelt. Die PTN-Konzentrationen in Serum und Synovia wurden mithilfe eines „enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay“ (ELISA) bestimmt.

Ergebnisse

Es fand sich kein statistisch signifikanter Unterschied (p > 0,05) bei Vergleich der durchschnittlichen PTN-Spiegel im Serum von Patienten mit RA, Patienten mit Arthrose und gesunden Kontrollen. Die durchschnittliche Konzentration in der Synovia war dagegen in beiden Patientengruppen signifikant höher als der durchschnittliche Serumspiegel (p < 0,001). Eine signifikante Korrelation fand sich nur zwischen den Serum-PTN-Spiegeln und der Dauer der Morgensteifigkeit (p = 0,008) sowie dem mHAQ-Score (p = 0,039) bei Patienten mit RA.

Schlussfolgerungen

Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass PTN eine wichtige Rolle bei RA und Arthrose spielen könnte. Dies ist der erste Bericht über ein serologisches PTN-Muster in Serum und Synovia von Patienten mit RA. Bevor aber PTN als Erkrankungsmarker etabliert oder als potenzieller Ansatzpunkt für eine zielgerichtete Therapie beider Erkrankungen herangezogen werden kann, müssen größere Studien und weitere Untersuchungen durchgeführt werden.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    S. M. H. Fadda M.D, I. H. Bassyouni M.D & N. Y. Elsaid M.D.

  2. Clincal Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    R. H. Khalifa M.D

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  1. S. M. H. Fadda M.D
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Correspondence to N. Y. Elsaid M.D..

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S. M. H. Fadda, I. H. Bassyouni, R. H. Khalifa and N. Y. Elsaid declare that they have no competing interests.

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Fadda, S.M.H., Bassyouni, I.H., Khalifa, R.H. et al. Pleiotrophin, the angiogenic and mitogenic growth factor: levels in serum and synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Z Rheumatol 77, 322–329 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-016-0234-8

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