Alireza Khoshdel1,2, Mohammad Forootan3, Mehdi Afsharinasab4, Mohsen Rezaian5, Mitra Abbasifard6. 1. Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center , Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. 2. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. 4. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Schoolof Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. 5. Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Occupational Environmental Research Center, Rafsanjan Medical School, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. 6. Molecular Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. dr.mabbasifard.m@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence has shown that cysteine protease enzymes, such as cathepsin D, cathepsin A, cathepsin K, and alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) are involved in the chronic degenerative joint process. This study aimed to determine the potential involvement of cathepsin K, cathepsin D, and AAT in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: This study was performed on 31 patients with knee OA and 29 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (both with Fars ethnicity from Iran). American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria were used to diagnose OA patients. The clinical status of the patients was scored by Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC), and pain intensity was measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The serum level of AAT was measured using high-resolution cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Additionally, serum levels of cathepsin D and cathepsin K were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The findings showed that the serum level of cathepsin K was significantly increased in OA patients compared to healthy subjects (P = 0.01), while there was no significant difference between serum level of cathepsin D in study groups (P = 0.2). In addition, the serum concentration of AAT was significantly decreased in OA patients compared to healthy subjects (P = 0.003). There was a significant correlation between WOMAC score and age (r = 0.644, P = 0.0001) and VAS (r = 0.866, P < 0.0001) in OA patients. CONCLUSIONS: The decreased level of AAT in OA patients and a rise in serum level of cathepsin K are involved in the pathogenesis of OA via stimulation of bone resorption and cartilage degradation.
BACKGROUND: Evidence has shown that cysteine protease enzymes, such as cathepsin D, cathepsin A, cathepsin K, and alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) are involved in the chronic degenerative joint process. This study aimed to determine the potential involvement of cathepsin K, cathepsin D, and AAT in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: This study was performed on 31 patients with knee OA and 29 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (both with Fars ethnicity from Iran). American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria were used to diagnose OA patients. The clinical status of the patients was scored by Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC), and pain intensity was measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The serum level of AAT was measured using high-resolution cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Additionally, serum levels of cathepsin D and cathepsin K were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The findings showed that the serum level of cathepsin K was significantly increased in OA patients compared to healthy subjects (P = 0.01), while there was no significant difference between serum level of cathepsin D in study groups (P = 0.2). In addition, the serum concentration of AAT was significantly decreased in OA patients compared to healthy subjects (P = 0.003). There was a significant correlation between WOMAC score and age (r = 0.644, P = 0.0001) and VAS (r = 0.866, P < 0.0001) in OA patients. CONCLUSIONS: The decreased level of AAT in OA patients and a rise in serum level of cathepsin K are involved in the pathogenesis of OA via stimulation of bone resorption and cartilage degradation.
Authors: Louisa Ben-Aderet; Emmanuelle Merquiol; Duha Fahham; Ashok Kumar; Eli Reich; Yael Ben-Nun; Leonid Kandel; Amir Haze; Meir Liebergall; Marta K Kosińska; Juergen Steinmeyer; Boris Turk; Galia Blum; Mona Dvir-Ginzberg Journal: Arthritis Res Ther Date: 2015-03-20 Impact factor: 5.156