Correlation of apoptotic indices with clinical criteria in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

ABSTRACT

Recent studies clarified the role of apoptosis in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases. To further clarify this point, the apoptotic indices, soluble Fas [s-Fas], lipid peroxides [LPER] representing oxygen free radical activity, nitric oxide [NO], interleukin-1B [IL-1B], cathepsin L and B were determined in the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and osteoarthritis [OA] in comparison with controls. The study included 18 patients with RA, 32 patients with OA together with 10 age and sex matched healthy persons representing a control group. Serum from each participant was used for determination of apoptotic indices. The study revealed significantly increased levels of s-Fas, LPER, NO, IL-1B, cathepsin B and L in patients with RA and OA as compared with controls. Moreover, the levels were significantly higher in RA as compared with OA. The levels of these indices correlated with disease severity being higher though insignificantly so in cases associated with fever and advanced X-ray grading. Moreover, significant positive correlations were observed between articular index and LPER [r = 0.58 and p < 0.05] in RA and between ESR and NO [r = 0.39 and p < 0.05], IL-1B [r = 0.41 and p < 0.05], cathepsin B [r = 0.41 and p < 0.05] and cathepsin L [r = 0.38 and p < 0.05] in OA. Also, significant positive correlations were observed between IL-1B levels and NO, cathepsin B and cathepsin L in either RA or OA, clarifying the important role of IL-1B in the induction of NO cathepsin B and L synthesis. In conclusion, the present study further clarified the role of Fas dependent apoptotic pathway in RA and OA. Thus, the supply of Fas ligand could be a novel therapeutic technique in the future. Moreover, antisense oligonucleotides against IL-1B could also be used to control the deleterious effects of cytokine network in RA and OA