title: The measurement of collagenase, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP), and collagenase-TIMP complex in synovial fluids from patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the levels of collagenase, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP), and collagenase-TIMP complex in synovial fluid (SF) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and patients with osteoarthritis (OA). This study aims to clarify existing data from previously used enzyme or inhibitor activity assays performed following separation by gel filtration, by using a 1-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for each component.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total collagenase, free TIMP, and collagenase-TIMP complex were measured using a newly developed, specific double-antibody sandwich ELISA:
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of both collagenase and TIMP were significantly higher in RA patients (collagenase 1,560 +/- 150 ng/ml [mean +/- SEM], TIMP 1,610 +/- 130 ng/ml; n = 80) than OA patients (collagenase 420 +/- 90 ng/ml, TIMP 1,050 +/- 60 ng/ml; n = 80), with the difference being especially striking for collagenase. Sixteen RA fluids had detectable levels of collagenase-TIMP complex, compared with only 3 OA fluids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of total collagenase in SF is greater in RA than OA, while levels of free TIMP show more overlap between the 2 diseases; this may simply reflect the increased inflammation seen in RA, or it may reflect a different disease mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Research Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hazleman
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Cawston
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000201:enzymology*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D017364:Collagenases / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000201:enzymology*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000201:enzymology*; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D017364:Collagenases; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1