Affiliation:
1. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Surgery, Medicine and Neurosciences, Le Scotte Hospital, Siena, Italy
2. Northern Ireland Centre for Stratified Medicine, University of Ulster, Biomedical Sciences, Research Institute, Londonderry, UK
Abstract
Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) includes different subsets; a particular and uncommon form is erosive HOA (EHOA). Interleukin- (IL-) 1βplays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA); it is synthesized as an inactive precursor which requires the intervention of a cytosolic multiprotein complex, named inflammasome, for its activation. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of IL-1βand the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in patients with EHOA and nonerosive HOA (NEHOA) compared to healthy controls. In particular, we evaluated the gene expression of IL-1βand NLRP3, the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-)α, and the protein levels of IL-1βand NLRP3. We also assessed the relationships between IL-1βand NLRP3 and clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings. Fifty-four patients with HOA (25 EHOA and 29 NEHOA) and 20 healthy subjects were included in the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene and protein expressions of IL-1βand NLRP3 were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-αserum levels were determined by ELISA. IL-1βgene expression was significantly reduced (p=0.0208) in EHOA compared to healthy controls. NLRP3 protein levels were significantly increased in the NEHOA group versus the control (p=0.0063) and EHOA groups (p=0.0038). IL-1βserum levels were not significantly different across the groups; IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-αwere not detectable in any sample. IL-1βconcentrations were negatively correlated with the Kellgren-Lawrence score in the whole population (r=−0.446;p=0.0008) and in NEHOA (r=−0.608;p=0.004), while IL-1βgene expression was positively correlated with the number of joint swellings in the EHOA group (r=0.512;p=0.011). Taken together, our results, showing poorly detectable IL-1βconcentrations and minimal inflammasome activity in the PBMCs of HOA patients, suggest a low grade of systemic inflammation in HOA. This evidence does not preclude a possible involvement of these factors at the local level.
Funder
European Regional Development Fund
Cited by
19 articles.
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