Abstract
5/2005
vol. 43
ORIGINAL PAPER The value of the assessment of interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in serum in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis activity
Ru 2005, 43, 5: 239-242
Online publish date: 2005/10/27
The aim of the study was to explore whether the serum level of interleukin 6 (IL-6) is correlated with matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), and with clinical markers of the disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Concentrations of IL-6, interstitial collagenase (MMP-1), stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), gelatinase B (MMP-9), TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were measured with an ELISA technique in serum of 32 RA patients. We found the correlations between IL-6 and total measured MMPs (p<0.001), and total measured TIMPs (p<0.001). Furthermore, serum IL-6, MMPs and TIMPs correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein level, the number of tender and swollen joints, and Ritchie articular index (RAI). We conclude that analysis of the serum IL-6, MMPs and TIMPs levels may be useful in the assessment of the RA activity.
Keywords
rheumatoid arthritis, interleukin 6, metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases
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