title: Raised chondroitin sulfate epitopes and hyaluronan in serum from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serum hyaluronan (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) epitopes WF6 and 3B3 (+) were determined to investigate disease association in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specific assays for HA and CS epitopes WF6 and 3B3 (+) were established and applied to a cross-sectional study of serum samples from patients (96 OA, 57 RA and 50 healthy controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both CS epitopes were increased in serum of many OA and RA patients and average levels were significantly above in healthy controls. In contrast serum HA was increased in RA, but only in few OA patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CS epitopes WF6 and 3B3 (+) are raised in serum of patients with both OA and RA and were thus distinct from serum HA. The results suggest that OA may be detected systemically as well as RA. The range of levels of CS epitopes detected in OA and RA was wide and correlation with any aspect of disease activity is yet to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Thailand Excellence Centre for Tissue Engineering, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pothacharoen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teekachunhatean
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Louthrenoo
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yingsung
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ong-Chai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hardingham
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kongtawelert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000939:Epitopes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D000939:Epitopes; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates