Synovial fluid exoglycosidases are predictors of rheumatoid arthritis and are effective in cartilage glycosaminoglycan depletion.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze enzymes involved in joint damage by simultaneous investigation of glycosidases and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with various joint diseases.


METHODS
Activities of glycosidases (beta-D-glucuronidase, beta-D-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, beta-D-N-acetyl-galactosaminidase, beta-D-galactosidase, and alpha-D-mannosidase) were tested at an acidic pH as well as at the original pH of the synovial fluid (SF) samples in parallel with activities of MMP-1 and MMP-9.


RESULTS
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were characterized by significantly elevated activities of beta-D-glucuronidase and beta-D-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase in SF compared with patients with osteoarthritis, seronegative spondylarthritis, or acute sports injury. To select the best predictor for distinguishing among patient groups, a stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed; the strongest association was found to be between RA and beta-D-glucuronidase/beta-D-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase activities (measured at the pH of the SF). Further, a significant correlation was observed between the activity of SF beta-D-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and the level of rheumatoid factor. In vitro digestion of human hyaline cartilage samples revealed that the dominant glycosidases, alone or in combination with MMPs, proved to be effective in depleting glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) from cartilage.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that exoglycosidases, which are present in the SF of RA patients, may contribute to the depletion of GAGs from cartilage and thereby facilitate the invasion of synovial cells and their attachment to cartilage in RA.
Ortutay
Zsuzsanna
Z
Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, 4 Nagyvárad tér, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary.
Polgár
Anna
A
Gömör
Béla
B
Géher
Pál
P
Lakatos
Tamás
T
Glant
Tibor T
TT
Gay
Renate E
RE
Gay
Steffen
S
Pállinger
Eva
E
Farkas
Csaba
C
Farkas
Eva
E
Tóthfalusi
László
L
Kocsis
Katalin
K
Falus
András
A
Buzás
Edit I
EI
D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002356:Cartilage / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000201:enzymology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D005966:Glucuronidase; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase