title: Serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 as a noninvasive biomarker of histological synovitis for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the correlation between matrix metalloproteinase- (MMP-) 3 and histological synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum MMP-3 of 62 patients with active RA was detected by ELISA. Serial synovial tissue sections from all RA patients, 13 osteoarthritis, and 10 orthopedic arthropathies patients were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemically for MMP-3, CD3, CD20, CD38, CD68, and CD15.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of lining MMP3+ cells was significantly higher in RA patients especially with high grade synovitis and it was significantly correlated with Krenn's synovitis score (r = 0.574, P < 0.001) and sublining inflammatory cells. Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that the association of the percentage of lining MMP3+ cells with activation of synovial stroma, sublining CD68+ macrophages, and CD15+ neutrophils was stronger than other histological indicators. The percentage of lining MMP3+ cells was significantly correlated with serum MMP-3 in RA (r = 0.656, P < 0.001). Serum MMP-3 was higher in RA patients with high grade synovitis than that of low grade synovitis and significantly correlated with synovitis score and activation of synovial stroma subscore (all P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum MMP-3 may be an alternative noninvasive biomarker of histological synovitis and RA diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Da
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Dong-Hui
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Le-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Qian
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-ning
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Lie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013585:Synovitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3