Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
J Clin Immunol. 2013 Feb;33(2):361-7. doi: 10.1007/s10875-012-9820-y. Epub 2012 Oct 25.
Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional molecule highly expressed in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We aimed to assess the plasma OPN levels in Behcet's disease (BD) patients and identify potential associations between these levels with disease activity, severity and clinical manifestations with special emphasis on vascular affection.
We studied 55 BD patients and 31 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Demographic, clinical and serological data were prospectively assessed. Activity and severity of BD were assessed using clinical scores and laboratory parameters. Plasma OPN levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Plasma OPN levels were significantly higher in patients with BD compared to healthy controls (p < 0.000). The means for plasma OPN levels in active and inactive BD patients were significantly higher than that for the normal controls (with p < 0.000 and p = 0.002 respectively). The mean OPN levels significantly associated with the BD clinical severity score from mild to severe (p = 0.011). BD patients with vascular involvement had significant elevation of plasma OPN levels than those without (P = 0.03). OPN levels positively correlated with severity score, IL6, hsCRP, ESR, leucocytes count and neutrophil count.
Plasma OPN levels were higher in BD patients than in healthy controls and were found to be associated with disease activity, severity and vascular involvement. To confirm our results we propose that larger scale, multicentre studies with longer evaluation periods are needed.
骨桥蛋白（OPN）是一种在慢性炎症和自身免疫性疾病中高度表达的多功能分子。我们旨在评估白塞病（BD）患者的血浆 OPN 水平，并确定这些水平与疾病活动、严重程度和临床表现之间的潜在关联，特别强调血管病变。
我们研究了 55 名 BD 患者和 31 名年龄和性别匹配的健康对照者。前瞻性评估了人口统计学、临床和血清学数据。使用临床评分和实验室参数评估 BD 的活动和严重程度。使用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）测量血浆 OPN 水平。
BD 患者的血浆 OPN 水平明显高于健康对照组（p<0.000）。活动期和非活动期 BD 患者的血浆 OPN 水平平均值明显高于正常对照组（p<0.000 和 p=0.002）。OPN 水平与从轻度到重度的 BD 临床严重程度评分显著相关（p=0.011）。有血管受累的 BD 患者的血浆 OPN 水平明显高于无血管受累的患者（P=0.03）。OPN 水平与严重程度评分、IL6、hsCRP、ESR、白细胞计数和中性粒细胞计数呈正相关。
BD 患者的血浆 OPN 水平高于健康对照组，且与疾病活动、严重程度和血管受累相关。为了证实我们的结果，我们建议需要进行更大规模、多中心、更长评估期的研究。
