Baseline serum concentrations of TRAIL in early rheumatoid arthritis: relationship with response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) and the therapeutic response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Circulating levels of TRAIL and its soluble receptor OPG were measured by ELISA in paired serum samples obtained from 66 patients with early RA at their first visit (baseline) and after 1 year of therapy. Levels of TRAIL and OPG were analyzed in relation to the clinical response, defined by the 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28).


RESULTS
Both serum TRAIL and OPG increased after DMARD therapy. Baseline levels of TRAIL, but not OPG, were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the patients that achieved a clinical response by DAS28 after 1 year of therapy, versus patients without clinical response to DMARD. Baseline serum levels of TRAIL were higher (p < 0.01) in rheumatoid factor-negative patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the basal level of circulating TRAIL is an important determinant in the therapeutic response to DMARD in patients with early RA.
Secchiero
Paola
P
Department of Morphology and Embryology, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 70, Ferrara, Italy.
Corallini
Federica
F
Castellino
Gabriella
G
Bortoluzzi
Alessandra
A
Caruso
Lorenzo
L
Bugatti
Serena
S
Bosco
Raffaella
R
Montecucco
Maurizio
M
Trotta
Francesco
F
D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand