Oxidative damage in synovial tissue is associated with in vivo hypoxic status in the arthritic joint.
OBJECTIVE
To assess levels of oxidative DNA damage (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanine; 8-oxo-dG) and lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxy-2-nonenal; 4-HNE) in serum, synovial fluid and tissue of patients with inflammatory arthritis in relation to in vivo hypoxia levels, disease activity and angiogenic markers.


METHODS
Oxygen levels in synovial tissue were assessed using an oxygen/temperature probe. Nuclear and cytoplasmic 8-oxo-dG and 4-HNE levels were assessed in synovial tissue from 23 patients by immunohistochemistry. 8-Oxo-dG and 4-HNE levels in serum and synovial fluid were determined using 8-oxo-dG and hexanoyl-Lys (HEL) adduct ELISAs, respectively. Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) levels were also measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
The median oxygen tension in synovial tissue was profoundly hypoxic at 19.35 mm Hg (2.5%). Nuclear 8-oxo-dG levels were significantly higher than nuclear 4-HNE levels in the lining and sublining layers (all p<0.001). In contrast, cytoplasmic 4-HNE levels were higher than cytoplasmic 8-oxo-dG levels in both cell layers (all p<0.001). Reduced in vivo oxygen tension correlated with high lipid peroxidation in synovial fluid (p=0.027; r=0.54) and tissue (p=0.004; r=0.58). Serum VEGF levels were positively correlated with cytoplasmic 4-HNE expression (p=0.05; r=0.43) and intensity (p=0.006; r=0.59) in the lining layer. Serum Ang2 levels were positively correlated with nuclear 4-HNE expression and intensity in both cell layers (all p < or = 0.05). DAS28-C-reactive protein was correlated with nuclear 4-HNE expression in the sublining layer (p=0.02; r=0.48) and DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate was correlated with nuclear 4-HNE expression in both cell layers (p < or = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Lipid peroxidation is associated with low oxygen tension in vivo, disease activity and angiogenic marker expression in inflammatory arthritis.
Biniecka
Monika
M
Department of Rheumatology, Dublin Academic Health Care, St Vincent's University Hospital and The Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, Dublin, Ireland.
Kennedy
Aisling
A
Fearon
Ursula
U
Ng
Chin Teck
CT
Veale
Douglas J
DJ
O'Sullivan
Jacintha N
JN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D001168:Arthritis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D010100:Oxygen