title: Recombinant human interleukin receptor antagonist influences serum chemokines in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the serum expressions of chemokines CCL2 and CCL3 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were treated with recombinant human interleukin 1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum CCL2 and CCL3 were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 54 active RA patients before and after treatment with IL-1Ra or a placebo, as well as 36 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the healthy controls, all the 54 RA patients exhibited higher serum CCL2 and CCL3 before and after treatment (p < 0.05). However, patients who had a good response to IL-1Ra treatment had significantly lower mean changes in the serum CCL2 and CCL3 levels from baseline to the last injection than IL-1Ra non-responders (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CCL2 and CCL3 may be useful efficacy markers of IL-1Ra treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China ; Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Yi-Xiao
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Bao
keywords: arthritis; chemokines; drug therapy; interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein; rheumatoid