title: Infliximab reduces CD147, MMP-3, and MMP-9 expression in peripheral blood monocytes in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Recent studies have reported elevated expression levels in active rheumatoid arthritis patients of the cluster of differentiation (CD) 147 on CD14(+) peripheral blood monocytes and as a result, CD147 may be a target for the development of a novel rheumatoid arthritis therapy. This report describes the inhibitory effects of infliximab on CD147 and metalloproteinases (MMP)-3 and MMP-9 overexpression in peripheral blood monocytes obtained from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Thirty patients with active rheumatoid arthritis that were refractory to methotrexate therapy were randomized at a 4:1 ratio into groups A and B, respectively. Group A received three to four infusions of infliximab (3mg/kg) and group B participants received four infusions of placebo. Both groups were also treated with a stable background dose of methotrexate. The CD147 expression levels on CD14(+) peripheral blood monocytes of rheumatoid arthritis patients was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of CD147, MMP-3, and, MMP-9 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was assayed by real-time quantitative PCR, and the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-9 in serum was measured by a multiplexed microsphere-based flow assay. Results showed that the expression of CD147 and MMP-9 mRNA in group A decreased compared to group B. Expression of CD147 on CD14(+) monocytes was reduced (P<0.05), and serum MMP-3 and -9 levels in group A were decreased by week 18. These data suggested that infliximab could inhibit CD147 expression on CD14(+) monocytes as well as reduce the levels of MMP-3 and MMP-9 in peripheral blood monocytes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, the 3rd Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, PR China. jianlin_h@163.com
authors.forename: Jianlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Baozhao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Qiuxia
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xujing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Shangling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Mingxia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Weixiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jieruo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D051926:Basigin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051926:Basigin; D000069285:Infliximab; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9