Plasma and synovial fluid osteopontin levels in patients with knee osteoarthritis: relation to radiological grade

To investigate osteopontin [OPN] levels in both plasma and synovial fluid of patients with primary knee osteoarthritis [OA] and their relationship with radiological grade. Sixty patients had knee OA and 30 control subjects were included. Anteroposterior knee radiographs were taken to determine the disease severity of the affected knee. The radiographic grading of OA in the knee was performed by using the Kellgren-Lawrence grading. Osteopontin levels in the plasma and synovial fluid were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared. OA patients had higher plasma osteopontin concentrations compared to healthy controls [p < 0.000]. Osteopontin levels in synovial fluid were significantly higher with respect to plasma sample [r = 0.694, p < 0.000]. The mean plasma levels of osteopontin in KL grade 4 were greater than those in KL grade 3, and the difference was statistically significant [p < 0.01]. The plasma osteopontin levels significantly correlated with the severity of disease [r = 0.870, p < 0.000]. The synovial fluid levels of osteopontin also correlated with disease severity as regarding the radiological grade [r = 0.817, p < 0.000]. Osteopontin in plasma and synovial fluid is related to progressive joint damage in knee OA. Osteopontin may serve as a biochemical marker for determining disease severity as regarding radiological grade

Possible role of leptin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in hypoandrogenicity in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

Hypoandrogenicity is common in men with rheumatoid arthritis who have lower levels of sex hormones such as testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate. The fat tissue hormone leptin is stimulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha], and was found to be associated with hypoandrogenicity. To study the inter-relation between serum levels of TNF-alpha, leptin and androgens in early diagnosed RA. Serum levels of TNF-alpha, leptin, testosterone, and [DHEAS] hormones were measured by ELISA and compared in 40 men with early RA and 30 healthy volunteers. The mean serum leptin and TNF-alpha were significantly elevated in patients with RA compared to control group, and both of them were positively correlated with the disease activity score [DAS28]. Sex hormones [testosterone and DHEAS] were significantly decreased in male patients with RA compared to control group, and they were negatively correlated with serum TNF-alpha, leptin. Our data suggest that TNF-alpha, and leptin may be involved in hypoandrogenicity in patients with RA and that strategies aimed at interfering with leptin axis could represent innovative therapeutic tool for hypoandrogenicity in RA