Resistin is abundantly present in rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue, synovial fluid, and elevated serum resistin reflects disease activity

L enolt ^1*, D Housa ², Z Vernerová ², T Jirásek ², R Svobodová ³, D Veigl ⁴, K Anderlová ⁵, U Müller-Ladner ⁶, K Pavelka ³ and M Haluzík ⁵

¹ Institution of Rheumatology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
² Department of Pathology, 3rd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
³ Institute of Rheumatology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
⁴ Clinic of Orthopaedic surgery, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
⁵ 3rd Internal Clinic, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Germany

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: seno{at}revma.cz.

Accepted 9 October 2006

Abstract

Background: Resistin is a newly identified adipocytokine, which has demostrated links between obesity and insulin resistance in rodents. In humans, pro-inflammatory properties of resistin are superior to its insulin resistance-inducing effects.

Objective:To assess resistin expression in synovial tissues, serum and synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and spondylarthropaties (SpA), and to study its relationship to inflammatory status and RA disease activity.

Methods: Resistin expression and localization in synovial tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. Serum and synovial fluid resistin, leptin, IL-1Ò, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-Ñ, and MCP-1 levels were measured. The clinical activity of RA patients was assessed according to the 28 joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28).

Results: Resistin was detected in both RA and OA synovium. Staining in the sublining layer was more intensive in RA compared to OA patients. In RA macrophages (CD68+), B-lymphocytes (CD20+), and plasma cells (CD138+), but not T-lymphocytes (CD3+) showed co-localization with resistin. Synovial fluid resistin was higher in RA than in SpA or OA patients (both p<0.001). In patients with RA and SpA, serum resistin levels were higher compared to those in patients with OA (p<0.01). Increased serum resistin in RA patients correlated with both CRP (r=0.53, p<0.02), DAS28 (r=0.44, p<0.05), but not with selected (adipo) cytokines.

Conclusion: The up-regulated resistin at local sites of inflammation and the link between serum resistin, inflammation, and disease activity suggest a role for resistin in the pathogenesis of RA.

Keywords: inflammation, osteoarthritis, resistin, rheumatoid arthritis, spondylarthropaty

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Gomez, R., Lago, F., Gomez-Reino, J., Dieguez, C., Gualillo, O. (2009). Adipokines in the skeleton: influence on cartilage function and joint degenerative diseases. J Mol Endocrinol 43: 11-18 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Filkova, M, Liskova, M, Hulejova, H, Haluzik, M, Gatterova, J, Pavelkova, A, Pavelka, K, Gay, S, Muller-Ladner, U, Senolt, L (2009). Increased serum adiponectin levels in female patients with erosive compared with non-erosive osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 68: 295-296 [Full Text]  
• Montecucco, F., Mach, F. (2009). Common inflammatory mediators orchestrate pathophysiological processes in rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 48: 11-22 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Forsblad d'Elia, H., Pullerits, R., Carlsten, H., Bokarewa, M. (2008). Resistin in serum is associated with higher levels of IL-1Ra in post-menopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 47: 1082-1087 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Qatanani, M., Lazar, M. A. (2007). Mechanisms of obesity-associated insulin resistance: many choices on the menu. Genes Dev. 21: 1443-1455 [Abstract] [Full Text]