MIA (melanoma inhibitory activity): a potential serum marker for rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
MIA (melanoma inhibitory activity) is correlated with metastasis in patients with malignant melanoma. As MIA is not only produced by melanoma cells, but also by differentiated chondrocytes, we examined whether serum levels of MIA are correlated with inflammation and/or joint destruction in rheumatic diseases.


METHODS
MIA serum concentrations of patients with different rheumatic diseases were examined and compared with healthy individuals and malignant melanoma patients. In addition, MIA concentrations were correlated to inflammatory parameters and joint destruction.


RESULTS
Increased MIA serum concentrations were found only in patients with rheumatic diseases associated with joint destruction, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, HLA B27-associated oligoarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. Of these rheumatic diseases, a significant increase in MIA serum concentrations was seen only in patients with RA, associated with rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity and joint destruction.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to RF, MIA might therefore be useful in the differential diagnosis of RA vs non-destructive rheumatic diseases, and the presence of elevated levels of MIA in serum very likely reflects joint destruction in RA.
Müller-Ladner
U
U
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, Germany.
Bosserhoff
A K
AK
Dreher
K
K
Hein
R
R
Neidhart
M
M
Gay
S
S
Schölmerich
J
J
Buettner
R
R
Lang
B
B
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology
D015415:Biomarkers; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C090059:MIA protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins