New potential markers for cartilage degradation of the knee joint.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the correlation of biochemical markers with the degree of cartilage degradation.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, synovial fluid samples were obtained from 65 patients with cartilage lesions of the knee joint. The measured biochemical markers included MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13, the tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMP-1), COMP, YKL-40, and tenascin. The marker levels were compared with the Outerbridge and the Noyes classification.


RESULTS
For the majority of markers, the correlation coefficient was below r = 0.3. The highest correlation coefficients were obtained from tenascin (r = 0.66 and 0.67) and MMP-13 (r = 0.44 and 0.41).


CONCLUSIONS
The overall results indicate that the majority of the tested markers is unspecific with regard to the different stages of the two classifications. However, tenascin and MMP-13 could be of clinical importance to indicate advanced stages. Yet the values of these markers in longitudinal studies are not known.
Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, DE-52074 Aachen, Germany. bernhard.schmidt@post.rwth-aachen.de
Bernhard
B
Schmidt-Rohlfing
Karsten
K
Gavenis
Martin
M
Kippels
Ulrich
U
Schneider
D054392:Adipokines; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D017364:Collagenases / Q000032:analysis; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000032:analysis; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D019063:Tenascin / Q000032:analysis; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000032:analysis
D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; C577553:TSP5 protein, human; D019063:Tenascin; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D017364:Collagenases; C507079:MMP13 protein, human; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1