title: Serum Vaspin Levels Are Associated with the Development of Clinically Manifest Arthritis in Autoantibody-Positive Individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have previously shown that overweight may increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in autoantibody positive individuals. Adipose tissue could contribute to the development of RA by production of various bioactive peptides. Therefore, we examined levels of adipokines in serum and synovial tissue of subjects at risk of RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one individuals positive for immunoglobulin M rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) and/or anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), without arthritis, were included in this prospective study. Levels of adiponectin, vaspin, resistin, leptin, chemerin and omentin were determined in baseline fasting serum samples (n = 27). Synovial tissue was obtained by arthroscopy at baseline and we examined the expression of adiponectin, resistin and visfatin by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The development of clinically manifest arthritis after follow-up was associated with baseline serum vaspin levels (HR1.5 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.2); p = 0.020), also after adjustment for overweight (HR1.7 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.5); p = 0.016). This association was not seen for other adipokines. Various serum adipokine levels correlated with BMI (adiponectin r = -0.538, leptin r = 0.664; chemerin r = 0.529) and systemic markers of inflammation such as CRP levels at baseline (adiponectin r = -0.449, omentin r = -0.557, leptin r = 0.635, chemerin r = 0.619, resistin r = 0.520) and ESR (leptin r = 0.512, chemerin r = 0.708), p-value<0.05. Synovial expression of adiponectin, resistin and visfatin was not associated with development of clinically manifest arthritis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this exploratory study, serum adipokines were associated with an increased inflammatory state in autoantibody-positive individuals at risk of developing RA. Furthermore, serum vaspin levels may assist in predicting the development of arthritis in these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Karen I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Maijer
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, University of Giessen, Kerckhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, University of Giessen, Kerckhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Müller-Ladner
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Daniël A C A D
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Drop
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tamara H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ramwadhdoebe
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ivy Y K
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Daniëlle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gerlag
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maria J H
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Hair
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Tak
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003710:Demography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D015843:Serpins / Q000097:blood*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin; C507339:SERPINA12 protein, human; D015843:Serpins