Cathepsin B and cystatin C play an inflammatory role in gouty arthritis of the knee.

BACKGROUND

To relate the expression of the matrix degrading proteinase cathepsin B and its endogenous inhibitor cystatin C in the synovial fluid (SF) to the clinical and laboratory variables of joint inflammation in gouty arthritis of the knee.

METHODS

Thirty-nine SF samples were obtained from inflamed knees of patients with acute gout. The levels of cathepsin B, cystatin C, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), soluble uPA receptor (suPAR) and PA inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9, and cell counts as well as local arthritis activity scores (LAS) were examined.

RESULTS

The increases of cathepsin B levels correlated with increased leukocyte and neutrophil counts, latent MMP-9 (pro-MMP-9) activities, uPA, suPAR and PAI-1 levels, and uPA/PAI-1 ratios. Increased cystatin C levels corresponded closely with increased LAS, leukocyte and neutrophil counts, pro-MMP-9 activities, uPA, suPAR and PAI-1 levels, and uPA/PAI-1 ratios. Moreover, there was a correlation between cathepsin B and cystatin C levels.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show a high correlation between the cathepsin B/cystatin C system and markers of joint inflammation in acute gout of the knee, demonstrating the pathologic role of cathepsin B and cystatin C in inflammation.