Increased serum proMMP-3 in inflammatory arthritides: a potential indicator of synovial inflammatory monokine activity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate if the increased concentrations of stromelysin (MMP-3) found in the synovial fluid (SF) of patients with various arthritides reflect the concentrations in the circulation.


METHODS
Using a double antibody ELISA, we have measured proMMP-3 concentrations in sera from these patient groups and in others with a heightened acute phase response (APR) as a result of multiple organ failure.


RESULTS
The median serum concentration of proMMP-3 was increased by up to ninefold in the inflammatory arthritides, but not in osteoarthritis or in patients with a heightened APR resulting from a non-chronic inflammatory condition.


CONCLUSIONS
In chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, serum proMMP-3 may prove to be a more specific indicator of monokine activity than currently available serum markers.
Taylor
D J
DJ
University Department of Medicine, University Hospital of South Manchester, West Didsbury, United Kingdom.
Cheung
N T
NT
Dawes
P T
PT
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000097:blood; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*
D015415:Biomarkers; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C048047:prostromelysin