Objective To investigate the expression of calreticulin and its correlation with autoantibodies and inflammatory cytokines in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Serum samples were obtained from 106 patients with early active RA, 95 patients with stable RA, 85 osteoarthritis (OA) and 80 healthy controls (HC). Serum levels of calreticulin, anti- cyclic peptide antibody (CCP), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured by enzyme-linked immnuosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum level of rheumatoid factor (RF) was detected by immunoturbidimetry. The correlations between serum calreticulin and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation test. Results Serum levels of calreticulin were significantly higher in patients with early active RA [(5.84±2.62)μg/L] than those in patients with stable RA [(4.26±1.42)μg/L], patients with OA [(3.92±1.10)μg/L] and HC [(3.86 ± 0.91)μg/L] (P<0.001). There were no statistical differences in serum levels of calreticulin between stable RA, OA and HC groups (P>0.05). Serum levels of calreticulin were significantly higher in RF-positive RA patients than those of RF-negative RA patients [(6.12±2.87)μg/L vs. (4.92±1.22)μg/L, P=0.045]. Serum calreticulin levels were also significantly higher in anti-CCP-positive RA patients than those of anti-CCP-negative RA patients [(6.39±2.93)μg/L vs. (4.69±1.17)μg/L, P=0.002]. The serum level of calreticulin was positively correlated with IL-1β (rs=0.386, P=0.009), IL-6 (rs=0.405, P=0.006) and TNF-α(rs=0.428, P=0.003) in early active RA patients. Conclusion The elevated serum level of calreticulin is related to autoantibodies and inflammatory cytokines in early RA patients, suggesting that calreticulin can be used as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis of RA.%目的 探讨钙网织蛋白在早期类风湿关节炎(RA)患者体内的表达及其与自身抗体和炎性细胞因子的关系.方法 收集106例早期活动性RA患者、95例经治疗达到稳定期RA患者、85例骨性关节炎(OA)患者和80例健康对照者(HC)的外周血标本.采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测血清钙网织蛋白、抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体(anti-CCP)及细胞因子白细胞介素(IL)-1β、IL-6、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α水平;采用免疫比浊法检测类风湿因子(RF)水平.Spearman等级相关分析活动性RA患者血清钙网织蛋白水平与血清IL-1β、IL-6和TNF-α的相关性.结果早期活动性RA组血清钙网织蛋白水平[(5.84±2.62)μg/L]高于稳定期RA组[(4.26±1.42)μg/L]、OA患者组[(3.92±1.10)μg/L]和HC组[(3.86±0.91)μg/L](P<0.001),后3组的血清钙网织蛋白水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);早期活动性RA患者RF阳性组血清钙网织蛋白水平高于RF阴性组[(6.12±2.87)μg/L vs.(4.92±1.22)μg/L,P=0.045],anti-CCP阳性组血清钙网织蛋白水平也高于anti-CCP阴性组[(6.39±2.93)μg/L vs.(4.69±1.17)μg/L,P=0.002];早期活动性RA患者血清钙网织蛋白水平与血清IL-1β(rs=0.386,P=0.009)、IL-6(rs=0.405,P=0.006)、TNF-α(rs=0.428,P=0.003)均呈正相关.结论 钙网织蛋白在早期活动性RA患者体内表达升高,且与自身抗体及炎性细胞因子水平有关,提示其可能成为RA早期诊断及预后评估的潜在血清学新指标.
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