title: [The biomarker assey for cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. -Which molecules can reflect cartilage breakdown in RA?-].
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized as inflammatory disease associated with cartilage degradation and subchondral bone erosion. RA is an autoimmune disease that has genetic and environmental backgrounds. The preservation of a functional articular cartilage enables the survival of a tissue that covers articulating surfaces in affected joints. The extracellular matrix of articular cartilage provides this tissue with its gprimary strength, resistance to deformation, and ability to dissipate load in the joint. Many research had been designed for trying to measure the remodeling and pathologic events in RA caritlage. The many matrix molecules, and their degradation products, are released from cartilage and bone and can be detected biochemically and immunologically in the serum and Joint fluids. Before evaluating the data of biomarkers revealed in pathologic conditions such as RA and OA, our skeletal system is built and maintained by a balance between synthesis and degradation. Furthermore this balance varies considerably from one person to another. It is nortworhy that the off-balance between synthesis and degradation lead to cartilage destruction. The use of many of the biomarker assays for matrix turnover offers the evidences to evaluate whether the treatments designed to inhibit the joint damage may successfully work in specific RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Nagoya University, Graduate School & Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
authors.forename: Toshihisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kojima