Correlation between Serum IL-35 Levels and Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract EN

Objective.

IL-35 was reported as a crucial anti-inflammatory cytokine and could efficiently regulate bone metabolism in murine collagen-induced arthritis model.

However, the relationship between IL-35 and bone health in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been clarified.

In this study, the aim was to explore the correlations between IL-35 and bone loss in postmenopausal women with RA.

Methods.

The study included 76 postmenopausal women with RA and 53 healthy postmenopausal women as healthy controls (HCs).

Serum IL-35 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine 1-4 and at total hip was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), β-isomerised carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX), and 25-(OH) VitD3 were measured by turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay.

Results.

Serum IL-35 levels were increased compared with HCs, and it positively correlated with BMD and 25-(OH) VitD3 and negatively correlated with β-CTX in postmenopausal women with RA.

Furthermore, serum IL-35 levels in the increased ALP group were higher than those in the normal ALP group.

Conclusions.

IL-35, an important anti-inflammatory cytokine, may participate in the pathogenesis of bone loss in postmenopausal women with RA.