Oncostatin-M and matrix metalloproteinase-3 production in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Abstract EN

Aim of Work : To evaluate the significance of measuring serum levels of Oncostatin-M (OS-M) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Subjects and Methods : The study was performed on 15 RA, 15 OA patients and 10 controls age and sex matched.

Laboratory and clinical data for all the patients were assessed and serum MMP-3 and OS-M were measured in all subjects.

Statistical analysis and correlations were done for all the data.

Results : Serum levels of MMP-3 and OS-M were higher in RA than OA patients and controls.

The difference was of a high statistical significance (p < 0.001, p < 0.001).

In RA patients OS-M level correlated positively with MMP-3 level (r = 0.826) but OS-M and MMP-3 did not correlate with any parameters of disease activity.

There was a significant difference in serum levels of OS-M and MMP-3 in patients taking steroid therapy and those who were not on steroid therapy.

In OA patients, serum MMP-3 and OS-M were also higher than those of controls and the difference was highly significant.

MMP-3 in OA patients correlated positively with ESR (r = 0.77) and this was higher in patients with severe erosive changes.

Conclusion : Measuring serum MMP-3 and OS-M is necessary for evaluating synovial inflammation and cartilage destruction in RA and OA patients.

Using MMP inhibitor may be useful to stop the progression of synovitis and erosions.